The nurse is caring for a patient who has delivered her first child. The patient states, "My mother said that I have to have a bowel movement before I can go home, but my girlfriend said that isn't true anymore. What caused this change?"

Question

Which response by the nurse is best?
1. "Doctors just want patients to go home sooner these days."
2. "It really doesn't matter. Don't worry about it."
3. "Research indicates it is normal for bowel function to slow for a few days."
4. "We used to give all patients laxatives, but now they cost too much."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Cost containment and managed care are the driving forces behind some changes in care compared to a generation ago, not physician preference.
Rationale 2: Always address a patient's questions and avoid saying "don't worry about it" to keep communication therapeutic.
Rationale 3: Evidence-based practice is the use of research findings to guide nursing actions, policies, and procedures. Often research findings contradict care that used to be the norm, leading to changes in policies and procedures.
Rationale 4: Although laxatives are low-cost medications, there is no evidence indicating that all patients should receive them after childbirth. The evidence indicates that bowel function slows slightly after birth and normally resumes in a few days.