Nervous nurse's guide to ebb and flow enemas

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This nervous nurse has done it again! Today I gave my first ebb and flow enema. Somehow I've managed to dodge doing these for nearly three years, so I asked some advice from my charge nurse. I already had a good handle on how to do them, but I asked her if I should include the castille soap because the patient was distended from gas and constipation. She thought that it could help.

Do you remember the volcanoes we all made in grade school? Yeah, hold that image. The instant I inserted the tube, the bubbles started and kept coming. Bubbles+soap=foam! Yep, I'll never do that again. Consequently, the patient felt much better, and I learned to not only think things through a little more, but also tiny ladies can hold a heck of a lot of gas. Peace out.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I once took care of an elderly lady who required Harris flushes every single morning at 0900. Not 0859, not 0901, had to be right on the dot or she'd get mad and demand another nurse who could get there on time. Anyway, this was NOT a pleasant task as she had very bad (read: odoriferous) gas, and you know how farts in water always seem to smell worse than "regular" farts? Yep, that's what I had to deal with every morning. At precisely 0900. I'll never forget that.

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This nervous nurse has done it again! Today I gave my first ebb and flow enema. Somehow I've managed to dodge doing these for nearly three years, so I asked some advice from my charge nurse. I already had a good handle on how to do them, but I asked her if I should include the castille soap because the patient was distended from gas and constipation. She thought that it could help.

Do you remember the volcanoes we all made in grade school? Yeah, hold that image. The instant I inserted the tube, the bubbles started and kept coming. Bubbles+soap=foam! Yep, I'll never do that again. Consequently, the patient felt much better, and I learned to not only think things through a little more, but also tiny ladies can hold a heck of a lot of gas. Peace out.

It's only an enema. Your goal is not met until stool is achieved!

Review the order. If castille soap enema is ordered, carry it out.

Sh*t should happen. That is the goal.

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Specializes in Critical care.

These are called tap water enemas in my area. They are the worst! I've done a bunch of different kinds of enemas and I always cringe when I see tap water or soap suds enema ordered.

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Specializes in ER.

I have learned that suctioning the watery stool up eases the clean up. Have your suction ready right beside the enema tubing.

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Specializes in Critical care.
I have learned that suctioning the watery stool up eases the clean up. Have your suction ready right beside the enema tubing.

Great idea- I never thought to do that! Thanks!! :)

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