How to Provide Nursing Care For A Patient After a Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a examination that is used to screen for colon cancer. It is also used to evaluate abdominal problems such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and changes in bowel habits. It is done by passing a colonoscope into the large intestine. After this procedure, a nurse monitors the patient for complications and provides care to prevent this.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check your patients vital signs after a colonoscopy procedure. Do this to make sure he does not have an adverse reaction to the procedure and that his vital signs are stable.

    • 2

      Observe your patient for signs of bowel perforation. Due to the nature of this procedure, your patient is at risk for punctured bowels or intestines. Look for the following signs: excessive or prolonged rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fever, or chills. If any of these are present, contact your patients physician.

    • 3

      Inform your patient that he may resume eating his normal diet after he recovers from sedation. Let him know also that he can do this only with his physician approval

    • 4

      Provide your patient with privacy after a colonscopy. Do this, so that he can rest. Let know that it is normal for him to pass blood tinged stools after this procedure but that heavy bleeding should be reported immediately.

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