Bowel Movement: The Sixth Vital Sign?
No Thumbnail Available
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Bowel movement is extremely important to assess body functions and constipation in all age groups, particularly in the geriatric population. Defecation function, which is the fifth status regarding to Daily Living Activity and the third place in Functional Health Patterns in which Nursing Process, is a concept that is dimension of functional as well as physical, social, and psychological. After the bowel movement of illness/health persons were assessed, health history, needs of training and support by nurses, and nursing care plan should be evaluated and prepared. The aim of this review is to provide nurses knowledge about assessing bowel movement and preparing a nursing care plan based on the current literature.