Care plans on Flatus

Couldn't resist. This Q & A was found at the student nurses forum. Students can ask RN's questions. Here is a sample.

uuummm, interesting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gsunursingstudent

Hi! I just finished my third week at clinicals. For the past three weeks, my instructor has given me patients with the same medical diagnosis (TAH). Also, we have to do a nursing care plan for each patient, without using the same nursing diagnosis twice. What is a good way to state a diagnosis for a patient that is having lots of "flatus" ?

Answer:
Not sure I would care plan "flatus." Rather, I would look at what is causing the flatus. Is the patient's diet causing the flatus? Does the patient have a GI disturbance or disease that might cause increased gas? Is the patient impacted? There might be a lot of reasons why the patient is having flatus.

Here would be an example of a reasonable ND and care plan:
Alteration in elimination related to poor diet and PO intake as evidenced by constipation and increased flatus.

Goal:
Patient will report normal bowel elimination pattern.

Interventions:
1. Use of medications as ordered and perscribed.
2. Monitor food and fluid intake.
3. Assess bowel sounds per hospital policy.
4. Monitor bowel output.
5. Labs as ordered.
6. Keep MD informed of changes or need for new orders to promote normal bowel elimination patterns.

In addition, if the flatus is casuing the patient pain, you could also use alteration in comfort ...... Again, the most important thing is to find the reason.
http://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80138