16.1 Elimination Introduction
Open Resources for Nursing (Open RN)
Learning Objectives
- Describe risk factors for urinary and bowel elimination
- Identify cues related to alterations in elimination across the life span
- Identify diagnostic tests indicative of disturbances in urinary and bowel elimination
- Identify measures to promote urinary and bowel elimination
- Contribute to a plan of care for clients with an alteration in urinary and bowel elimination
After ingesting food and fluids, our body eliminates waste products through the urinary system and the gastrointestinal system. Nurses provide care for clients with commonly occurring elimination alterations, including urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, constipation, diarrhea, and bowel incontinence. This chapter will provide an overview of these alterations and the associated nursing care.