Nursing Care Plan for Abdominal Pain

Pathophysiology

Abdominal pain can be a very minor issue that is easily resolved or a medical emergency.  Many different things can cause abdominal pain, whose pathophysiology can differ widely. Abdominal pain can be classified as either acute or chronic. When a patient presents to the emergency department or outpatient environment with abdominal pain, it generally constitutes a lengthy workup to determine the cause, and therefore the pathophysiology. Additionally, abdominal pain can be referred pain, which can complicate the clinical picture even further.

Etiology

Abdominal pain can be the result of pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, trauma, a long list of gastric issues (gastroenteritis, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, Chron’s disease, appendicitis, to name a few), hernias, allergic response, endometriosis, gallstones, severe menstrual cramps, hepatitis, miscarriage, and many more. Many disease processes result in abdominal pain, and some may present with abdominal pain even though it is not the typical clinical picture.

Desired Outcome

Cease painful stimuli, resolve the underlying cause, minimize any subsequent damage.

Abdominal Pain Nursing Care Plan

Nursing Interventions and Rationales

• Assess pain

• Control pain: repositioning, heat/cold, medications (muscle relaxants, analgesics), and so forth (all as clinically appropriate)

• Assess bowel movements (color, consistency, frequency, amount)

• Ensure adequate hydration; may require intravenous fluids

• Assess bowel sounds

• Facilitate normal bowel patterns

• Record intake and output

• Prevent infection

• Assess abdominal distention, report changes in size and quality as appropriate

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References

• Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition