Toileting
Encyclopedia
In health care
, toileting is the act of assisting a dependent patient
with his/her elimination needs. Depending on a patient's condition, his/her toileting needs may need to be met differently. This could be by assisting the patient to walk to a bathroom
, to a portable commode, onto a bedpan
, or to provide a male patient with a urinal
. A more dependent or incontinent
patient may have his/her toileting needs met solely through the use of diaper
s.
. The bedpan is placed underneath the patient, who can urinate
or defecate
as needed.
Some patients are able to place their own bedpans under themselves, and assistance is required only to empty them after the fact.
s to prevent their pants
from being stained by their elimination. Diapers must be checked and changed frequently.
. A Foley catheter
is inserted into the bladder. An external catheter is attached to the penis
of a male patient. While Foley catheters can only be applied by a nurse or physician
, external catheters can be attached to patients by a certified nurse assistant.
With self-toileting patients on I & O, or those who are assisted to a regular toilet or portable commode, a receptacle is placed in the toilet bowl that catches all urine that is put out by the patient. This, in turn, is measured by the nursing staff and recorded prior to its disposal.
If the patient is using a bedpan, the nursing staff member who empties the bedpan measures the urine prior to its disposal.
Urinals usually contain measuring lines providing easy measurement. Urinals are also useful for measuring urine from other sources.
Catheters, which are frequently used when it is necessary to measure a patient's output, often have measuring lines on their bags, but these are not considered to be accurate because the bag is floppy. Urine that is emptied from a catheter must be placed in a level container (such as a urinal) in order to be measured.
Bowel movement is generally measured by its size (small, medium, or large), given the amount. Additionally, if a patient has diarrhea
, this is recorded.
A patient who has not had a bowel movement in several days is often given laxative
s. Patients who independently toilet themselves often do not report bowel movements, thereby leading them to get laxatives when they do not need them.
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, toileting is the act of assisting a dependent patient
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
with his/her elimination needs. Depending on a patient's condition, his/her toileting needs may need to be met differently. This could be by assisting the patient to walk to a bathroom
Bathroom
A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....
, to a portable commode, onto a bedpan
Bedpan
A bedpan or bed pan is an object used for the toileting of a bedridden patient in a health care facility, usually made of a metal, glass, or plastic receptacle. A bed pan can be used for both urinary and fecal discharge. Many diseases can confine a patient to bed, necessitating the use of bedpans,...
, or to provide a male patient with a urinal
Urinal (health care)
A urinal is a bottle for urination. It is most frequently used in health care for patients who find it impossible or difficult to get out of bed...
. A more dependent or incontinent
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is any involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a profound impact on quality of life. Urinary incontinence almost always results from an underlying treatable medical condition but is under-reported to medical practitioners...
patient may have his/her toileting needs met solely through the use of diaper
Diaper
A nappy or a diaper is a kind of pant that allows one to defecate or urinate on oneself discreetly. When diapers become soiled, they require changing; this process is often performed by a second person such as a parent or caregiver...
s.
Methods of toileting
The methods used for toileting patients vary for each patient, depending on the needs of the particular patient.Ambulatory assistance
Some patients can walk with assistance from another person, usually a health care worker. Aside from the need for this help, they are capable of meeting their own elimination needs.Bedpan
Patients who cannot get out of bed easily but are continent are able to request a bedpanBedpan
A bedpan or bed pan is an object used for the toileting of a bedridden patient in a health care facility, usually made of a metal, glass, or plastic receptacle. A bed pan can be used for both urinary and fecal discharge. Many diseases can confine a patient to bed, necessitating the use of bedpans,...
. The bedpan is placed underneath the patient, who can urinate
Urination
Urination, also known as micturition, voiding, peeing, weeing, pissing, and more rarely, emiction, is the ejection of urine from the urinary bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body. In healthy humans the process of urination is under voluntary control...
or defecate
Defecation
Defecation is the final act of digestion by which organisms eliminate solid, semisolid or liquid waste material from the digestive tract via the anus. Waves of muscular contraction known as peristalsis in the walls of the colon move fecal matter through the digestive tract towards the rectum...
as needed.
Some patients are able to place their own bedpans under themselves, and assistance is required only to empty them after the fact.
Urinal
A urinal is much like a bedpan but only for a male. the urinal is shaped in a way that the male may use it while still in bed and remain comfortable. Its much different from the urinals that are commonly know but yet its just as well made for the male to use if he cannot get out of bed with or without assistance. The urinal is also ofen used when I & O must be recorded.Diaper
Incontinent patient often wear diaperDiaper
A nappy or a diaper is a kind of pant that allows one to defecate or urinate on oneself discreetly. When diapers become soiled, they require changing; this process is often performed by a second person such as a parent or caregiver...
s to prevent their pants
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
from being stained by their elimination. Diapers must be checked and changed frequently.
Catheter
Catheters are tubes that drain urine straight out of the bladderUrinary bladder
The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
. A Foley catheter
Foley catheter
A Foley catheter is a flexible tube that is often passed through the urethra and into the bladder. The tube has two separated channels, or lumens, running down its length. One lumen is open at both ends, and allows urine to drain out into a collection bag...
is inserted into the bladder. An external catheter is attached to the penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
of a male patient. While Foley catheters can only be applied by a nurse or physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, external catheters can be attached to patients by a certified nurse assistant.
Input and output
Input and output (I & O) is the measure of food and fluids that enter and exit the body. Certain patients with the need are placed on I & O, and if so, their urinary output is measured.With self-toileting patients on I & O, or those who are assisted to a regular toilet or portable commode, a receptacle is placed in the toilet bowl that catches all urine that is put out by the patient. This, in turn, is measured by the nursing staff and recorded prior to its disposal.
If the patient is using a bedpan, the nursing staff member who empties the bedpan measures the urine prior to its disposal.
Urinals usually contain measuring lines providing easy measurement. Urinals are also useful for measuring urine from other sources.
Catheters, which are frequently used when it is necessary to measure a patient's output, often have measuring lines on their bags, but these are not considered to be accurate because the bag is floppy. Urine that is emptied from a catheter must be placed in a level container (such as a urinal) in order to be measured.
Bowel movement
In many patients, bowel movement is also measured. In some facilities, it is the standard procedure to record bowel movement of all patients.Bowel movement is generally measured by its size (small, medium, or large), given the amount. Additionally, if a patient has diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
, this is recorded.
A patient who has not had a bowel movement in several days is often given laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
s. Patients who independently toilet themselves often do not report bowel movements, thereby leading them to get laxatives when they do not need them.
Sources
- Foundations of Caregiving, published by the American Red CrossAmerican Red CrossThe American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...