Diagnostic Evaluation
Blood
tests are ordered initially. Common blood tests include complete blood count
(CBC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), liver function tests, serum cholesterol,
and triglycerides. Test find-ings may reveal alterations in basal metabolic
function and may indicate the severity of a disorder.
Many
other modalities are available for diagnostic assessment of the GI tract. The
majority of these tests and procedures are per-formed on an outpatient basis in
special units designed for this purpose (eg, endoscopy or GI laboratory). The
nurse supports and educates patients who are undergoing diagnostic evaluation,
whether in an inpatient or an outpatient setting. Patients who re-quire such
tests frequently are anxious, elderly, or debilitated. The preparation for many
of these studies includes fasting, the use of laxatives or enemas, and
ingestion or injection of a contrast agent or a radiopaque dye. These
preparatory measures are poorly tol-erated by weak and many elderly patients
and have the potential to cause fluid and electrolyte imbalances. If further
assessment or treatment is needed after any outpatient procedure, the patient
may be admitted to the hospital.
General
nursing interventions for the patient who is having GI diagnostic assessment
include the following:
•
Providing general information about a healthy diet
and the nutritional factors that can cause GI disturbances; after a diagnosis
has been confirmed, the nurse provides informa-tion about specific nutrients
that should be included in the diet
•
Providing needed information about the test and the
activ-ities required of the patient
•
Providing instructions about postprocedure care and
activ-ity restrictions
•
Alleviating anxiety
•
Helping the patient cope with discomfort
•
Encouraging family members or others to offer
emotional support to the patient during the diagnostic testing
•
Assessing for adequate hydration before, during,
and imme-diately after the procedure, and providing education about maintenance
of hydration
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