Nursing care plan Help!

[TanyaBelviy]

I really need help with this. I am only into the 3rd week and this is due in two days!

An 82-year-old patient was admitted to your unit. He presented to the ER with severe abdominal pain after being discharged home five days ago after recovering from a hip fracture. The patient is alert and oriented. Pupils are PERRLA. Lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. Respirations are even and unlabored. Heart rate is regular and S1 and S2 are easily auscultated. Abdomen is distended and bowel sounds are hypoactive in all quadrants. Skin is warm and dry and skin turgor is >3 sec. The patient states he has been unable to eat because his belly feels full.” His last bowel movement was five days ago. The patient spends most of his day on the couch watching television because it hurts to walk”. He reports his pain level is 6 on a 0-10 scale and was prescribed hydrocodone 5 mg when discharged. The patient states he has been taking 1 tablet every 6-8 hours since discharge. His fluid intake has been only 240 ml over the past 24 hours.

I have to list 3 Nursing diagnosis and do a care plan on the highest priority.

The three I was going to so was acute pain, constipation and dehydration. Is that right?

Which one would be the highest priority?

Thank you

[brookegillen]

I would make my priority the constipation, as the abdominal pain is likely a result of the constipation, and also a main intervention for constipation is to increase fluid intake, so that will kick out the dehydration as well. I completely agree with the three you chose, sounds good so far!