Urinary & Bowel Elimination, Nutritional Assessment, and Transitions in Care

Flashcards covering key concepts related to urinary and bowel elimination, nutritional assessment, and transitions in care.

What are normal findings for urinary elimination?

Clear, pale yellow urine; no pain or burning; minimum output of 30 mL/hr; regular voiding pattern.

What indicates abnormal urinary elimination?

Dysuria, hematuria, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, frequency, urgency, retention, incontinence.

Normal bowel elimination characteristics include?

Soft, formed stool; brown color; and a regular pattern.

What can indicate abnormal bowel elimination?

Constipation or diarrhea, black/tarry or bloody stool, mucus or fat in stool, abdominal distention, incontinence.

What factors affect urinary and bowel elimination?

Age, diet, hydration, activity level, medications, illness, surgery/anesthesia, psychological factors.

What should a comprehensive assessment of elimination include?

History of usual patterns, recent changes, diet/fluid intake, medications, symptoms, and a physical exam.

What is the indication for using a Foley catheter?

Acute urinary retention, need for accurate urine measurement, perioperative use, protection of wounds.

What are potential complications of catheter use?

Catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI), urethral trauma, blockage or kinking, false passage from forceful insertion.

What dietary guidelines should be promoted for nutrition?

Encourage balanced nutrition across food groups, limit sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars.

What is the significance of hydration in nutritional health?

Adequate hydration prevents concentrated urine and constipation.

What are common nursing diagnoses related to nutrition?

Imbalanced nutrition (less/more than body requirements), risk for aspiration, feeding self-care deficit.

What are measurable nursing goals for nutritional support?

Patient will consume adequate calories, maintain/gain weight, improve lab values, and demonstrate safe swallowing.

What are key components of self-management for adults with chronic illness?

Understanding disease, medication management, symptom monitoring, problem-solving, lifestyle adaptation.

What is the purpose of transitions in care?

To ensure continuity, safety, and coordination of care as patients move between healthcare settings.

What strategies can improve patient transitions?

Use SBAR for communication, ensure patient/family education, coordinate care across healthcare settings.

What barriers can affect successful transitions in patient care?

Low health literacy, language differences, limited social support, financial constraints, cognitive impairment.

What must patients know before transitioning from one care setting to another?

Their condition, medications, warning signs to report, whom to contact for help, and follow-up plans.

What indicates abnormal urinary elimination?

Dysuria, hematuria, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, frequency, urgency, retention, incontinence.

Normal bowel elimination characteristics include?

Soft, formed stool; brown color; and a regular pattern.

What can indicate abnormal bowel elimination?

Constipation or diarrhea, black/tarry or bloody stool, mucus or fat in stool, abdominal distention, incontinence.

What factors affect urinary and bowel elimination?

Age, diet, hydration, activity level, medications, illness, surgery/anesthesia, psychological factors.

What should a comprehensive assessment of elimination include?

History of usual patterns, recent changes, diet/fluid intake, medications, symptoms, and a physical exam.

What is the indication for using a Foley catheter?

Acute urinary retention, need for accurate urine measurement, perioperative use, protection of wounds.

What are potential complications of catheter use?

Catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI), urethral trauma, blockage or kinking, false passage from forceful insertion.

What dietary guidelines should be promoted for nutrition?

Encourage balanced nutrition across food groups, limit sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars.

What is the significance of hydration in nutritional health?

Adequate hydration prevents concentrated urine and constipation.

What are common nursing diagnoses related to nutrition?

Imbalanced nutrition (less/more than body requirements), risk for aspiration, feeding self-care deficit.

What are measurable nursing goals for nutritional support?

Patient will consume adequate calories, maintain/gain weight, improve lab values, and demonstrate safe swallowing.

What are key components of self-management for adults with chronic illness?

Understanding disease, medication management, symptom monitoring, problem-solving, lifestyle adaptation.

What is the purpose of transitions in care?

To ensure continuity, safety, and coordination of care as patients move between healthcare settings.

What strategies can improve patient transitions?

Use SBAR for communication, ensure patient/family education, coordinate care across healthcare settings.

What barriers can affect successful transitions in patient care?

Low health literacy, language differences, limited social support, financial constraints, cognitive impairment.

What must patients know before transitioning from one care setting to another?

Their condition, medications, warning signs to report, whom to contact for help, and follow-up plans.

What nursing interventions can prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)?

Aseptic insertion, proper perineal care, maintaining a closed drainage system, timely removal.

What are common signs and symptoms of dehydration?

Thirst, dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output, poor skin turgor, increased heart rate, low blood pressure.

What nursing interventions promote regular bowel elimination?

Encourage adequate fluid and fiber intake, promote physical activity, establish a regular toileting schedule, provide privacy.

What are the key components of effective discharge planning?

Medication reconciliation, follow-up appointments, education on warning signs, care coordination, home care instructions.

What is the primary role of the nurse in chronic illness self-management education?

To empower patients with knowledge and skills for disease understanding, symptom management, lifestyle changes, and medication adherence.

What are essential components of a nutritional assessment?

Dietary history, physical exam (skin, hair, nails), anthropometric measurements (BMI, weight loss), and lab values (albumin, prealbumin).

What are common therapeutic diets and their primary purpose?

Low-sodium (hypertension), diabetic (blood glucose control), clear liquid (post-op, GI rest), renal (kidney disease).

What nursing strategies promote medication adherence in chronic illness?

Simplifying regimens, patient education on purpose and side effects, reminders, use of pill organizers, addressing financial barriers.

What is medication reconciliation and why is it crucial for care transitions?

The process of comparing a patient's current medication list against new medications prescribed during transition to prevent errors, duplications, and omissions.

What is dysphagia?

Difficulty swallowing.

Nursing interventions for dysphagia include?

Upright positioning, thickened liquids, small bites, slow pace, supervision.

What does SBAR stand for in healthcare communication?

Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.

What is the 'teach-back' method?

Confirmation of understanding by having the patient explain information in their own words.