The patient on frequent doses of meperidine (Demerol) complains of constipation. Which initial intervention is best?
a. Offer fruit such as prunes or apricots.
b. Request an order for an enema.
c. Report the condition to the charge nurse.
d. Increase oral fluid intake.
D
Increasing fluid intake is the best initial approach because additional fluid allows the body to correct the problem naturally. Fruits can be offered, but increasing the fluid intake is the most effective and priority intervention. An enema is invasive and is not an early intervention for con-stipation. The nurse should be able to implement proper care without reporting the constipation to the charge nurse.
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