A nurse is using the PIE format to write a progress note for a client who has constipation.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include as the intervention?
A.
“Encouraged the client to increase fluid and fiber intake.”.
B.
“Assessed the client’s bowel sounds and abdominal distension.”.
C.
“Administered bisacodyl suppository as prescribed.”.
D.
“Evaluated the client’s response to the suppository.”.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. “Administered bisacodyl suppository as prescribed.”
The PIE format stands for Problem, Intervention, and Evaluation, which is a nursing documentation method that organizes the nurse’s notes in a structured way to ensure a focus on the patient’s problem, the nursing actions taken, and the outcome of those actions. Each component plays a specific role:
- Problem (P): Identifies the issue or diagnosis the client is facing. In this scenario, the problem is constipation.
- Intervention (I): Describes the specific nursing actions taken to address the identified problem. In this case, the nurse administering the bisacodyl suppository as prescribed is an active intervention aimed at resolving the client’s constipation.
- Evaluation (E): Involves assessing the client’s response to the intervention. It determines whether the action was effective or if further steps need to be taken.
Now, let’s break down the options:
- Option A (“Encouraged the client to increase fluid and fiber intake”) is not the best choice because this is more of a health promotion or education action rather than a direct intervention specifically designed to treat the immediate problem of constipation. While important, it doesn’t represent a specific, immediate action taken by the nurse to address the current issue of constipation in the context of the PIE format.
- Option B (“Assessed the client’s bowel sounds and abdominal distension”) represents the assessment phase, not the intervention. This would fall under nursing assessment or data collection, not the intervention itself.
- Option C (“Administered bisacodyl suppository as prescribed”) is the correct answer because it describes a specific action that the nurse took to resolve the problem of constipation. This direct intervention is aimed at treating the constipation by facilitating bowel movement.
- Option D (“Evaluated the client’s response to the suppository”) would be part of the Evaluation step, which assesses whether the intervention (administering the suppository) was successful.
In conclusion, administering the bisacodyl suppository represents the intervention in the PIE format because it is a direct action taken to address the problem of constipation. The other options either fall under assessment, education, or evaluation.