NCLEX-PN › Gerontology and End-of-Life Care
The nurse is discussing end-of-life care procedures with an elderly patient who is Buddhist. The nurse knows that the patient will most likely want to incorporate:
Time for meditation
Prayers to provide support and comfort
No autopsy and cremation
No blood transfusions
Buddhists will want time for meditation, and may refuse medications that alter awareness. A shrine to Buddha may be placed in the client's room.
The nurse cares for an 82-year-old woman with frequent constipation. Which of the following statements by the nurse would be inappropriate?
“You can take a laxative whenever you want to have a bowel movement.”
“You can try light exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.”
“Make sure you are well hydrated. 6-8 glasses of water a day would be good.”
“You should eat dark green vegetables and whole grains.”
“It could help to remove dairy products like milk and cheese from your diet.”
Elderly patients may suffer from bowel problems like constipation due to lower motility in the gastrointestinal tract. The nurse should advise this client to exercise daily (to increase blood flow to the GI tract), stay hydrated (to prevent hard, dry stools), eat more fiber (such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and beans), and stay away from milk and cheese (as lactose sensitivity is common and may be a cause of constipation or bloating). This patient should not take laxatives each time a bowel movement is expected; reliance on laxatives is not recommended because it can desensitize the bowel and make constipation worse.