title: Bowel care: implementing changes toward quality improvement.
abstract: This article describes the challenges accepted by two healthcare teams at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which impacted significantly upon the practice of nursing. The first healthcare team developed a medium size glycerine suppository ("glycerine bomb"), which was determined to be more effective than the bisacodyl in oil base suppository. The second team evaluated the effectiveness of a suppository of choice ("Magic Bullet") which was approved for use and replaced the "glycerine bomb." The need for a formalized protocol for a bowel care program was identified, developed and implemented. A bowel care program quality improvement monitor was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the protocol. With continuous monitoring, we are challenged to evaluate our findings and restructure our interventions.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Walker-Dalton
mesh_terms: D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005990:Glycerol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013488:Suppositories; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D013488:Suppositories; D005990:Glycerol