Question

INFORMED CONSENT....Explain what you would do if you were Jennifer?

2-7: Informed Consent Registered Nurse Jennifer works with Dr. Jones in a gastroenterology clinic. Primary care phy- sicians in the area often refer their patients to one of the gastroenterologists at the clinic when a patient needs a colonoscopy. Prior to the day of their procedure, patients are told to come to the clinic to obtain their colonos- copy preparation instructions, including some of the laxative medications. When patients re- ferred to Dr. Jones come to the clinic, Jennifer explains their preprocedure instructions, but she also explains the benefits and risks of the colonoscopy and has the patient sign a colo- noscopy consent form. Dr. Jones does not see these patients until they are in the outpatient surgery center procedure room about to un- dergo their colonoscopy. Questions

Answer 1

A colonoscopy exam allows your doctor to see the inside of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. It’s one of the most efficient ways for doctors to:

• look for colon polyps
• find the source of unusual symptoms
• detect colon cancer

The test itself is brief, and most people are under general anesthesia during it. You won’t feel or see anything, and recovery generally takes only a few hours.

The day before the colonoscopy procedure — Don't eat solid foods. Instead, consume only clear liquids like clear broth or bouillon, black coffee or tea, clear juice (apple, white grape), clear soft drinks or sports drinks, Jell-O, popsicles, etc.

The day of the colonoscopy procedure — As on the previous day, clear liquid foods only. Don't eat or drink anything two hours before the procedure.

Bowel prep for colonoscopy

The afternoon or evening before the colonoscopy, drink a liquid that will trigger bowel-clearing diarrhea

1. Make sure you receive your colonoscopy prep instructions well before your procedure date and read them completely as soon as you get them.  Pick up some medicated wipes (for example, Tucks or adult wet wipes with aloe and vitamin E) and a skin-soothing product such as Vaseline or Desitin — you're going to be experiencing high-volume, high-velocity diarrhea.
2. Arrange for the time and privacy you need to complete the prep with as little stress as possible. Clear your schedule, and be at home on time to start your prep. If you have children or aging parents who need attention, have someone else be available to them while you're indisposed.
3. Water can get boring, so keep a variety of clear liquids on hand. On the day before your colonoscopy — when you're restricted to clear liquids — you can have popsicles, Jell-O, clear broth, coffee or tea (without milk or creamer), soft drinks, Italian ice, or Gatorade. But take nothing with red, blue, or purple dye. Drink extra liquids before, during, and after your bowel prep (usually until a few hours before your procedure), as well as after your colonoscopy.
4. To make a bad-tasting liquid prep like magnesium citrate easier to swallow, try one or more of the following if it doesn't come flavored: add some Crystal Light or Kool-Aid powder (again, not red, blue, or purple); add some ginger or lime; drink it chilled; drink it through a straw placed far back on your tongue; hold your nose and drink it as quickly as possible; quickly suck on a lemon slice after you finish each glass; hold a lemon or lime under your nose while you drink; suck on a hard candy after each glass.
5. Wear loose clothing, and stay near the bathroom. Better yet, once the preparation starts to work, stay in the bathroom — because when the urge hits, it's hard to hold back. Consider setting up shop near the toilet with music, your laptop, magazines, or books.
6. Don’t drink anything — even water — two hours before your procedure. This step is important to help prevent you from getting sick after your procedure. People who drink right before the procedure risk getting sick and breathing vomit into their lungs. Some hospitals request a longer window without liquids, so follow their instructions
7. Please feel free to call me or Doctor if you need any further help