Constipation: Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan
🎓 Educational reference. Match to your patient's actual assessment data and have your instructor review it.
Definition: Decreased frequency or difficult passage of hard, dry stool.
Related factors ("related to")
- Low fiber/fluid intake
- Reduced mobility
- Opioids and other medications
Defining characteristics ("as evidenced by")
- Infrequent hard stools, straining
- Abdominal distension/discomfort
- Hypoactive bowel sounds
Sample goals / outcomes
- Patient passes a soft, formed stool within 24–48 hours.
Nursing interventions
- Assess bowel pattern, diet, fluids, activity, meds
- Encourage fluids, fiber, and mobility
- Give stool softeners/laxatives as ordered; provide privacy
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Build a care plan freeConstipation nursing diagnosis: FAQ
What is the Constipation nursing diagnosis?
Decreased frequency or difficult passage of hard, dry stool.
What are the related factors for Constipation?
Common related factors: Low fiber/fluid intake; Reduced mobility; Opioids and other medications. In your care plan, write it as "Constipation related to [factor] as evidenced by [your patient's data]."
What are nursing interventions for Constipation?
Key interventions: Assess bowel pattern, diet, fluids, activity, meds; Encourage fluids, fiber, and mobility; Give stool softeners/laxatives as ordered; provide privacy — each with a rationale in your plan.
Last reviewed 2026-07. Educational content in standard clinical language; not medical advice and not affiliated with NANDA-I/NIC/NOC.