Disorder of the Gastrointestinal System Module 14

The Disorder of the Gastrointestinal System module starts with an introduction to the gastric tract. Many of the diagnostic tests are briefly explained. Disorders such as Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD), GERD, GI Bleeding, constipation, diarrhea, gastroenteritis and diverticular disease as well as the nursing implications are addressed. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are reviewed. Colostomy and ostomy (urinary) care in general is briefly described.

During the practicum, I was lucky to get a patient with a colostomy. The colostomy care plan is conducted by a team of medical persons, ostomy care nurse, floor nurse and wound care nurse. This patient also had a wound vac to manage a previous slow healing wound. The dressing changes were done on Tuesdays and Fridays and took 1-2 hours. The nurses gowned up and used sterile technique because of the healing surgical wound. One nurse opened the dressings on the sterile field, procured supplies, and set up the wound vac system. As a refresher, I preformed the non-sterile float nurse role. I helped as much as I could and as much as I was allowed. As a refresher you will not be able to do everything.  The refresher student is not allowed to do the wound vac dressing but I was glad to help in any way of value and I observed, so I could learn to do the procedure at a later date.  I was able to do other dressings with supervision and I was happy with that experience.

The module addresses other organs in the abdominal cavity and some of the most common diseases of these organs. The signs and symptoms of Hepatitis, the diagnostic tests and the nursing interventions are discussed. The author also devotes a section to Pancreatitis including both acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. The final topic in this module is Cholecystitis or inflammation of the gallbladder.

As you can see there is a lot of information cramped into this one module. You are encouraged to visit the on-line library for further information on any of the listed topics.