A client recovering from abdominal surgery reports feeling bloated and has not had a bowel movement in three days. What is the BEST initial intervention by the nurse?
Administer a prescribed stool softener.
Increase the client's fluid and dietary fiber intake.
Place the client on a bed pan for easier elimination.
Encourage the client to ambulate frequently in short intervals.
The correct answer is promoting mobility to stimulate peristalsis, which is a frequently recommended first-line intervention for constipation in post-surgical clients. Mobility, including assisted walking, helps to stimulate gastrointestinal motility and is typically implemented before pharmacological measures such as laxatives. Increasing fluid and fiber intake without addressing immobility may not be effective initially. Offering medication interventions, like laxatives, should be done only after non-pharmacological measures have failed or based on the provider’s instructions.
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Physiological Integrity
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