Nursing Outcome, Nursing Interventions, and Patient Teaching For Inguinal Hernia

Common Nursing diagnoses found on Nursing care plan for Inguinal Hernia

Activity intolerance
Acute pain
Ineffective tissue perfusion: Gastro Intestinal
Risk for infection
Risk for injury

Nursing outcomes nursing care plans for Inguinal Hernia

The patient will perform activities of daily living within the confines of the disease process.
The patient will express feelings of comfort.
The patient's bowel function will return to normal.
The patient will remain free from signs or symptoms of infection.
The patient will avoid complications.

Nursing interventions nursing care plans for Inguinal Hernia

Apply a truss only after a hernia has been reduced. For best results, apply it in the morning before the patient gets out of bed.
Assess the skin daily and apply powder for protection because the truss may be irritating.
Watch for and immediately report signs of incarceration and strangulation.
Closely monitor vital signs and provide routine preoperative preparation. If necessary, When surgery is scheduled
Administer I.V. fluids and analgesics for pain as ordered.
Control fever with acetaminophen or tepid sponge baths as ordered.
Place the patient in Trendelenburg's position to reduce pressure on the hernia site.

After surgery,

Provide routine postoperative care.
Don't allow the patient to cough, but do encourage deep breathing and frequent turning.
Apply ice bags to the scrotum to reduce swelling and relieve pain; elevating the scrotum on rolled towels also reduces swelling.
Administer analgesics as necessary.
In males, a jock strap or suspensory bandage may be used to provide support.

Patient teaching home health guide

Explain what an inguinal hernia is and how it's usually treated.
Explain that elective surgery is the treatment of choice and is safer than waiting until hernia complications develop, necessitating emergency surgery.
Warn the patient that a strangulated hernia can require extensive bowel resection, involving a protracted hospital stay and, possibly, a colostomy.
Tell the patient that immediate surgery is needed if complications occur.
If the patient uses a truss, instruct him to bathe daily and apply liberal amounts of cornstarch or baby powder to prevent skin irritation.
Warn against applying the truss over clothing, which reduces its effectiveness and may cause slippage. Point out that wearing a truss doesn't cure a hernia and may be uncomfortable.
Tell the postoperative patient that he'll probably be able to return to work or school and resume all normal activities within 2 to 4 weeks.
Explain that he or she can resume normal activities 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.
Remind him to obtain his physician's permission before returning to work or completely resuming his normal activities.
Before discharge, Instruct him to watch for signs of infection (oozing, tenderness, warmth, redness) at the incision site. Tell him to keep the incision clean and covered until the sutures are removed.
Inform the postoperative patient that the risk of recurrence depends on the success of the surgery, his general health, and his lifestyle.
Teach the patient signs and symptoms of infection: poor wound healing, wound drainage, continued incision pain, incision swelling and redness, cough, fever, and mucus production.
Explain the importance of completion of all antibiotics. Explain the mechanism of action, side effects, and dosage recommendations of all analgesics.
Caution the patient against lifting and straining.