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Colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that utilizes a flexible fiberoptic colonoscope inserted into the rectum to examine the large intestine (colon) lining visually. It is indicated for patients with a history of constipation, diarrhea, persistent rectal bleeding, and lower abdominal pain when the results of proctosigmoidoscopy and a barium enema test are negative or inconclusive. The nurse‘s responsibility during colonoscopy encompasses different tasks to ensure the patient’s safety before, during, and after the procedure. It is also the nurse’s responsibility to bowel prep the patient for colonoscopy, obtain informed consent and ease the patient’s anxiety by providing information about the procedure. Aside from assisting the physician during the colonoscopy, another essential task of the nurse is to ensure patient safety when the colonoscope is reprocessed. Proper cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of the equipment is an important step to prevent infection from patient to patient. Proper reprocessing involves wiping the scope tube with a lint-free cloth soaked using a detergent solution, then taking it to a sterile reprocessing room for meticulous cleaning, leak testing, visual examination, and sterilizing. This study guide can help nurses understand their tasks and responsibilities during colonoscopy. Colonoscopy IndicationColonoscopy is indicated for several reasons, which includes:
ContraindicationThis procedure is contraindicated for:
ProcedureSteps to colonoscopy are performed as follows:
Interfering factorsThese are factors that may affect the outcome of the colonoscopy:
Nursing ResponsibilitiesThe following are the nursing interventions and nursing care considerations for the patient: Before the procedure The following are the nursing interventions before colonoscopy:
During the procedureThe following are the nursing interventions during colonoscopy:
After the procedureThe nurse should note the following nursing interventions post-colonoscopy:
Normal resultsNormal findings of colonoscopy will show a:
Abnormal resultsAbnormal colonoscopy findings may reveal:
GalleryImages related to colonoscopy: ReferencesAdditional resources and references for the colonoscopy study guide:
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