Study Guide for Fundamentals of Nursing The Art and Science of Nursing Care

h.Review manufacturer’s directions for

collecting the specimen and avoid mixing

the specimen with urine or water.

DEVELOPING YOUR

KNOWLEDGE BASE

IDENTIFICATION

1.Locate the internal anal sphincter, the external

anal sphincter, the anal canal, the rectum,

and the anal valve on the figure below and

write the appropriate body part on the lines

provided.

254 UNIT VII PROMOTING HEALTHY PHYSIOLOGIC RESPONSES

Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Study Guide for Fundamentals of Nursing:

2.Place the following steps for digital removal

of stool in the order in which they would

normally occur:

a.Work the finger around and into the hard-

ened mass to break it up and then remove

pieces of it. Instruct the patient to bear

down if possible while extracting feces to

ease in removal.

b.Place the patient in a side-lying position

and place a bedpan on the bed for deposit-

ing removed feces.

c.Use an oil-retention enema if necessary.

d.Remove the impaction at intervals if it

is severe. This helps to avoid discomfort

as well as irritation, which can injure intes-

tinal mucosa.

e.Drape the patient to provide privacy, yet

provide easy access.

f.Lubricate the forefinger generously to

reduce irritation of the rectum and insert

the finger gently into the anal canal. The

presence of the finger added to the mass

tends to cause discomfort for the patient if

the work is not done slowly and gently.

g.Use clean gloves for the procedure because

the intestinal tract is not sterile.

h.Have a second person assist with the proce-

dure to reassure and comfort the patient

while the first person breaks up the mass.

LWBK696-C38_p251-261.qxd 9/3/10 11:56 AM Page 254 Aptara Inc