Susceptible to increased, decreased, ineffective, or lack of peristaltic activity within the digestive tract

• Altered water source
• Anxiety
• Eating pattern change
• Excessive stress
• Exposure to contaminated materials
• Impaired physical mobility
• Malnutrition
• Sedentary behaviors
• Unsanitary food preparation

• Decreased gastrointestinal circulation
• Diabetes mellitus
• Enteral nutrition
• Food intolerance
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Infections
• Pharmaceutical preparations
• Treatment regimen

• Diet
• Recent travel
• Recent surgical procedures
• Health status, educational level, cultural status, requests for information; demonstrated understanding of material
• Fluid and electrolyte status, including blood urea nitrogen level, creatinine level, intake and output, mucous membranes, serum electrolyte levels, and skin turgor
• Nutritional status, including dietary patterns, laboratory tests, and serum protein level
• Neurologic status, including level of consciousness, mental status, motor function, and sensory pattern
• Gastrointestinal (GI) status, including nausea and vomiting, bowel habits, stool characteristics, history of GI problems, disease, or surgery; bowel sounds

• Patient will not experience gastrointestinal cramping/pain.
• Patient will not have gastrointestinal distention.
• Patient will identify diet selections and lifestyle changes that would promote healthy GI function.
• Patient will verbalize strategies to promote healthy bowel function.
• Patient will acknowledge the importance of seeking medical help for persistent alteration in GI motility.
• Patient will not experience altered GI motility related to prescribed medications.
• Patient will recognize chronic conditions that may contribute to altered GI motility, for example, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Suggested NOC Outcomes

• Assess patient for signs of fluid or electrolyte imbalance related to increased or decreased GI motility. Fluid and electrolyte alterations can result from either increased or decreased GI motility.
• Assess patient for positive risk factors for altered GI motility. This will allow for timely interventions to prevent complications associated with GI dysfunction.
• Assist patient taking prescribed medications that affect motility with strategies to avoid GI complications. Awareness of preventive measures will decrease GI complications.
• Encourage early ambulation for postoperative patients receiving opioids for pain control. Early ambulation will reduce the risk of narcotic-related constipation.
• Educate patient regarding the risk factors related to altered GI motility, including certain food choices, fluid intake, medications, travel, and activity. Promotion of healthy lifestyle choices will contribute to positive patient outcomes.
• Provide encouragement and support for behaviors that enhance GI health. Positive reinforcement results in improved confidence in self-management of health behaviors.
• Coordinate care with other disciplines as needed to reinforce positive behaviors or to assist with complex situations.

Suggested NIC Interventions

• Patient does not report gastrointestinal cramping/pain.
• Patient makes dietary and fluid selections to maintain a healthy GI system.
• Patient seeks medical help for persistent alteration in GI motility.
• Patient has no adverse reaction to medications.
• Patient verbalizes the relationship of chronic conditions to GI motility.

• Patient's expressions of concern about adverse reaction and symptoms of altered GI motility
• Observations of physiologic and behavioral manifestations of decreased GI motility
• Interventions performed to allay adverse GI reactions to medications
• Teaching provided and patient's response
• Patient's response to interventions
• Evaluations for expected outcomes

• Jacob, L. (2017). Auscultation of bowel sounds in critical care: The role of the nurse. British Journal of Nursing, 26(17), 962-963. doi:10.12968/bjon.2017.26.17.962
• Lovén Wickman, U., Yngman-Uhlin, P., Hjortswang, H., Wenemark, M., Stjernman, H., Riegel, B., & Hollman Frisman, G. (2019). Development of a self-care questionnaire for clinical assessment of self-care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A psychometric evaluation. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 89, 1-7.
• Stoner, P. L., Kamel, A., Ayoub, F., Tan, S., Iqbal, A., Glover, S. C., & Zimmermann, E. M. (2018). Perioperative care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Focus on nutritional support. Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2018, 1-13.
• Thompson, J. (2017). Improving clinical care for patients with irritable bowel syndrome. British Journal of Nursing, 26(2), 76-80. doi:10.12968/bjon.2017.26.2.76