Publication Date

Spring 2014

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Sylvia Miller

Second Advisor

Doug Ota

Third Advisor

Lynne Whitney-Caglia

Keywords

bowel, neurogenic bladder, neurogenic bowel, incontinence, spinal cord injury, autonomic dysreflexia

Abstract

Patients with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) are at risk for mismanaged bowel care during acute hospitalization, which can lead to numerous medical complications ranging from loss of personal dignity and privacy to many serious medical conditions, some of which are life threatening. Additionally, mismanagement of bowel care during acute hospitalization may lead to costly extended hospital stays. The project was to describe bowel and bladder care for SCI/D patients during acute hospitalization using a self-reported questionnaire submitted by approximately 46.6% of SCI/D patients from the Veterans' Affairs Central California Health Care System. The self-report questionnaire was designed by the author to enable patients to communicate their experiences of care. Using Orem's Self-Care Deficit theory, analysis of these results may assist in the development of a bowel-and-bladder care template for use during hospitalization. This template may contribute to improved outcomes and to higher quality of care during hospitalized. Furthermore, it may result in increased life expectancy and improved quality of life for SCI/D patients.

Included in

Other Nursing Commons

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.