Charting of infant's voids and BMs

Published

Our unit will now be required to descriptively chart our infants' BM's i.e.-color, consistency and amount. While we presently do chart the frequency, we do not chart a description unless it is out of the norm. Want to know what other hospitals/units are required to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I only chart the description if I actually saw it. Otherwise I just document frequency. I don't think we are required to be more descriptive, unless of course there was something out of the ordinary. Also, all of our babies room in with mom. We do not have a normal newborn nursery, only a Special Care Nursery if there is an issue. So we usually aren't the ones changing diapers, unless mom had a c/s, needs extra help for some reason, or if I'm feeling extra generous. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

We chart frequency and type/color - meconium, transition, seedy, green, yellow. If I didn't see it, I ask the parents to describe it. There's enough space in the flowsheet to freehand a description if necessary (say, if they pass a mucus plug or something).

If it's a kid that I'm worried about their output - say, they haven't pooped in 24 hours and then they have a blowout, I'll chart 'large' along with with meconium. Or if it's just a smear, I'll chart that too.

We don't, as a general rule, weigh diapers for voids. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea but we currently don't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Obstetrics.

We chart an occurrence.... so if they have mec or void, we chart (1) under stool or void. If there was something truly out of the ordinary, we'd wrote a note next to the occurrence and then probably chart under 'gastrointestinal'.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Postpartum, Antepartum, Psych., SDS, OR.

I love Epic charting...All the needed information is there, select and click all that applies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion