During the admission interview, the nurse learns that an older patient frequently experiences constipation. What should the nurse respond to the patient?
A) "I'll make sure that a laxative is ordered for you while you're here in the hospital.".
B) "Many older adults find that increasing their activity level and taking a mild laxative daily provides relief.".
C) "Constipation is usually a sign of a more serious health problem, so I'll pass that information on to your physician.".
D) "There are measures that I can teach you such as changing your diet and increasing the amount of fluids you drink.".
D
Feedback:
Nonpharmacologic measures for treating and preventing constipation are preferable to laxatives. Constipation is a common problem among older adults and is related to several lifestyle and age-related factors; it is not necessarily a sign of a more serious illness.
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