Question

Nursing Skill/Concept Laboratory Test Procedure Name: Stool for Occult Blood Name: Date: Indications (Symptoms Pl. may be displaying) Nursing Interventions Potential Complications Outcomes/Evaluations Patient Education

Answer 1

The stool for occult blood is a lab test used to find hidden blood in the stools.This is also known as Fecal occult blood test.

Indications for Fecal occult blood test :

Anaemia

Bowel cancer

Irritable colon syndrome

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Nursing Interventions

Preprocedural nursing interventions :

• Assess the condition of the patient and explain about the procedure and make to feel comfortable.
• Allow the patient to take more fluids and ask to urinate before the procedure, so that collected Fecal matter will not be contaminated with urine.
• Avoid all laxative medications prior to the procedure.
• Also patient should be on special diet before the procedure or test such as fresh fruits and vegetables, small amounts of chicken.

Post procedural nursing interventions

• After the procedure make the patient to feel comfortable, allow hand washing.
• Ask the patient to get into normal diet and activities.

Potential complications

The test shows negative, when the patient is suffering from colon cancer.This is also known as false negative test.

Out comes or Evaluation

Results showing hidden blood in the stools indicate haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome , Gastritis, anal fissures, oesophagitis and gastritis.

Patient Education

• Educate the patient about the findings of the test
• Encourage the client to meet the physician
• Explain about the dietary pattern changes needed
• Educate regarding the life style changes to be practiced i.e. avoiding smoking and alcohol
• Educate about the importance of having frequent examinations
• Encourage the patient to take more amount of fluids.