BOWEL CHARTING
Evan Chai GNP RN
WHAT
Bowel charting is a daily charting of residents' bowel movements in which include the date, AM, PM or night shift, the amount, the consistency and whether suppositories are given.
WHY
- Acts like a tracker of bowel movements
- Gives an overview of residents bowel movement
WHO
- The carers and staff on duty.
- Communicate with your buddy who works in the same wings/ shift before filling in the bowel chart to ensure accurate charting.
WHEN
- Note down in a piece of paper to ensure you do not forget, after you have toilet the resident
- Fill in the bowel charting before you finish your shift
- Hand over to your wing buddy /RN on duty if charting has not been done or anything needs to be noted
HOW
- Use the Bristol stool form scale as a guide to type of bowel movement
- It is a visual aide designed to aid in classifying the consistency or the form of stool
- Type 1-2 indicates constipation, Type 3 - 4 considered 'normal stools' and Type 5-7 indicates loose stools or diarrhoea
- Type 4 is considered most ideal as it most easy to pass
Indication on charts
BO - bowels opened, BNO - bowels not opened.
Size:- Small, Medium, Large
Example:- BOL4