Gi Bleed Nursing Care Plan

What is a GI Bleed Nursing Care Plan Template?

A gastrointestinal (GI) bleed refers to bleeding within the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. Sometimes referred to as a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, It can present as either upper gastrointestinal bleeding (from the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum) or a lower gastrointestinal bleeding (from the colon or rectum).

GI bleeding can range from mild to severe and can manifest as either overt bleeding, whereby there is visible blood in vomit or stool, or as occult bleeding. The latter is not visible to the naked eye and may present with lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, fainting, and pain. 

The causes of GI bleeds vary and can include conditions such as peptic ulcers, gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, tumors, or vascular malformations. Symptoms can range from subtle signs like fatigue, pallor, and abdominal pain to more severe manifestations such as vomiting blood (hematemesis) or passing black, tarry stools (melena).

Gastrointestinal bleeding nursing care plans hold significant value in managing this condition due to their comprehensive approach. Standardized and effective care delivery can be ensured by focusing on assessment, interventions, diagnostic support, medication management, and the monitoring and prevention of complications in the GI tract.

Gastrointestinal bleeding can affect individuals of any age, yet certain populations are more at risk of developing the condition. Men are more likely to have vascular disorders and diverticulosis compared to the female population, and the risk increases with age.

Elderly patients who take blood thinners or non-steroid anti-inflammatories, as well as host an array of comorbidities, are at higher risk of internal bleeding, as well as patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Patients who suffer from alcoholism have an increased risk of developing gastritis, ulcers, and liver disease, all of which contribute to a higher risk of GI bleeding.

How does it work?

Step 1: Gather your resources

GI Bleed nursing care plans are a valuable resource and essential to keep on hand. Make sure that you have a copy of the free printable PDF when the need arises by either clicking the “Download Template” or “Use Template” button or by searching “GI bleed nursing care plan” on Carepatron's template library's search bar on the website or app.

Step 2: Collate essential information

Before anything, a GI bleed nursing diagnosis must be done first. This involves checking their vital signs, blood pressure, blood volume, etc.

Once the patient has been diagnosed and assessed for internal bleeding, utilizing the GI bleed nursing care plan template to ensure all goals of care are met is both seamless and easily accessible to relevant parties via Carepatron's centralized workspace. 

Assessment, symptom management, and interventions can be collated within the single care plan and safely stored on a single database. The care plan allows for individualized treatment options and acts as a scaffolding to ensure goals of care are met, and the next steps are recorded for future reference or for distribution to other healthcare specialists who are part of the patient's care team.

Do note that GI bleed may share symptoms with other blood-related problems. An example would be high blood pressure (hypertension). Just because a person has hypertension, doesn't mean they automatically have GI bleeding, so it's best to conduct a thorough examination of your patient to make an accurate diagnosis and so this GI Bleed Nursing Care Plan Template of ours can be used.

If your patient is dealing with just hypertension, we recommend checking out our Hypertension Nursing Care Plan guide and template. Our template for it is free and it should help nurses better provide the necessary interventions or treatment for those dealing with high blood pressure.

Step 3: Store the chart securely

After reviewing the GI bleed nursing care plan and creating a viable and individualized plan for the patient, you need to secure the plan so that access is only granted to relevant parties. 

Ensure this through Carepatron's HIPAA-compliant free patient records software. Here, all relevant medical records can be safely stored and collated for ease and security.

When would you use this template?

A GI bleed nursing care plan can be used in various scenarios where a patient presents with gastrointestinal bleeding. Some situations where this care plan might be implemented include:

Hospitalized patients

Individuals admitted to hospitals due to gastrointestinal bleeding, which could result from ulcers, gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, or other GI disorders.

Emergency room visits

Patients arriving at the emergency room with symptoms such as hematemesis (vomiting blood), melena (black, tarry stools), hematochezia (bright red blood in stools), or signs of significant blood loss.

Post-surgical complications

After certain surgeries involving the gastrointestinal tract, there can be complications leading to bleeding that require immediate attention and management.

Chronic conditions

Patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as peptic ulcers or esophageal varices, may experience recurrent bleeding episodes, necessitating ongoing nursing care plans.

Outpatient clinics

Individuals receiving outpatient care for chronic gastrointestinal bleeding conditions who experience sudden onset or exacerbation of bleeding symptoms might require immediate intervention and a structured care plan.

What do the results mean?

GI bleeding can be referred to in two separate clinical syndromes, either upper GI bleeding or lower GI bleeding. A diagnosis is often formed from the direct observation of blood in the stool or vomit, yet the differentiation of an upper or lower bleed can be somewhat difficult to diagnose. 

Healthcare professionals favor using the Rockall scale to determine the severity of upper GI bleeding, and using a gastric aspiration to determine the presence of blood in the stomach can help point to a diagnosis of upper GI bleeding. Imaging such as a CT angiography helps determine the exact location of the bleed for appropriate treatment and intervention. The presence of a GI bleed is not a stand-alone disease but rather an indication of an underlying health problem that calls for further investigation and testing. 

Upper GI bleed

A bleed that is situated between the pharynx and the ligament of Treitz and is characterized by blood, vomiting, and stool is classed as an upper GI bleed. This particular bleed is mostly caused by peptic ulcer disease and esophageal inflammation. The use of medications such as NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors dramatically increases the risk of developing an upper bleed, with corticosteroids and anticoagulants also increasing the risk. 

Lower GI bleed

Situated in the colon, rectum, or anus, this particular bleed location is often caused by the presence of hemorrhoids, some cancers, angiodysplasia, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. This type of bleed is often characterized by the passing of fresh blood rectally with the lack of blood present within vomit. This type of bleed can also lead to melena should the bleed be situated in the small intestine or proximal colon.

What can you normally see in a GI bleed nursing care plan?

What you'll find on a GI bleed nursing care plan will depend on the specific kind of gastrointestinal bleeding a patient is dealing with and how severe the bleeding and its effects are on the patient.

Part of treatment is patient education. Nurses will inform the patient about the causes of gastrointestinal bleeding and how it can possible affect them (whether temporarily or permanently). This is essential because the patient will learn what they need to do to lower the risk factors of them experiencing GI bleed again in the future.

It's also important for nurses to administer intravenous fluids for hospitalized patients, monitor vital signs frequently, and be ready to conduct emergency procedures to prevent loss of life.

Other kinds of treatment involve using packed red blood cells for blood transfusions and providing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The former should make up for the blood loss caused by gastrointestinal bleeding while the latter should help with dealing with any inflammations that cause or exacerbate the bleeding.