Bowel dysfunction is common and has devastating effects on individuals’ overall health and wellbeing. Nurses are well placed to detect, assess, and implement management strategies for people with bowel dysfunction, while supporting them to navigate the psychosocial challenges that come with complex and challenging bowel conditions.
This forum will equip nurses to help people suffering from bowel dysfunction by revisiting the physiology of the digestive system, exploring conditions that affect optimum bowel function, and learning about various treatments. It will then showcase recent nursing research into different bowel conditions in varying populations and consider the outcomes of these findings. The discussion will conclude with an emotive consideration of the role of the nurse in prioritizing and preserving the dignity of care-dependent individuals, based on findings from a large-scale program which explicated unspoken social beliefs and values about incontinence.

Forum Chair: Jane Clarke

Length: 90 minutes

Level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain insight into various bowel conditions and potential causes
2. Understand the biopsychosocial impact of bowel issues on individuals’ lives
3. Increase knowledge around effective bowel management strategies
4. Consider the nurse’s role in managing bowel conditions, promoting self-management strategies, and prioritizing the individual’s right to dignified care.

Speakers:

1. Jane Clarke (chair and speaker), MNurs – Spec, MBA, MSc, RN
2. Kristine Talley, PhD, RN, CNP FGSA
3. Talita dos Santos Rosa, PhD, MSc, RN.
4. Joan Ostaszkiewicz, PhD, RN, MNurs-Res