Nursing Care Plan for Constipation
Infrequent or difficult passage of hard stool. Nursing care addresses bowel patterns, hydration, mobility, and safe elimination.
🎓 Educational example. Adapt to your patient and have your instructor review it. Not medical advice.
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What do you assess in the Constipation care plan?
- Subjective: no bowel movement in 3+ days, straining, abdominal discomfort
- Objective: firm/distended abdomen, hypoactive bowel sounds, hard stool on exam
Which nursing diagnoses apply to Constipation?
As evidenced by: infrequent hard stools, straining, distension
What are the goals and expected outcomes for Constipation?
Each goal below follows the SMART format: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound.
- The patient will pass a soft, formed stool within 24–48 hours.
- The patient will describe three strategies to prevent recurrence before discharge.
What are the nursing interventions for Constipation, and why?
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Assess bowel pattern, diet, fluids, activity, and medications. | Identifies contributing factors to target the cause. |
| Encourage fluids, fiber, and mobility as tolerated. | Promotes normal peristalsis and stool softening. |
| Administer stool softeners/laxatives as prescribed; consider a bowel regimen with opioids. | Prevents and relieves opioid-induced and other constipation. |
| Provide privacy and a normal toileting position. | Supports the natural urge and effective evacuation. |
How do you evaluate the Constipation care plan?
- Soft stool passed
- Abdomen softer, bowel sounds normal
- Patient verbalizes prevention plan
Where do these Constipation recommendations come from?
Stop rewriting care plans by hand
CarePlanKit builds a complete, formatted care plan for any condition (assessment, diagnosis, SMART goals, interventions with rationale) and exports to PDF or Word in your school's format. Free to start.
Build a care plan free Preview Pro (coming soon)Which nursing diagnoses are used in Constipation?
Constipation care plan: FAQ
What is the nursing diagnosis for Constipation?
Common nursing diagnoses include: Constipation related to reduced mobility, low fiber/fluid intake, or medication (e.g., opioids). Choose the one your patient's assessment data supports.
What are nursing interventions for Constipation?
Key interventions: Assess bowel pattern, diet, fluids, activity, and medications.; Encourage fluids, fiber, and mobility as tolerated.; Administer stool softeners/laxatives as prescribed; consider a bowel regimen with opioids., each paired with a rationale.
Can I use this care plan for my assignment?
Use it as a study example and starting draft. Always adapt it to your specific patient and have it reviewed by your instructor. This is an educational tool, not medical advice.
For nursing education only, NOT medical advice and not a clinical decision-making tool. Nothing here should be used to assess, diagnose, or treat any real patient. Care plans and answers are unverified study drafts to review with your instructor or a licensed clinician and adapt to the individual patient and your institution’s protocols before any use.
Last reviewed 2026-07. Educational content based on standard nursing practice; not medical advice and not affiliated with NANDA-I/NIC/NOC. Always follow your institution's protocols and your instructor's guidance.