Asessment of the individual

Abstract

Assessment is recognized as being of prime importance for the planning of appropriate nursing care and the subsequent nursing intervention (Roper, Logan and Tierney, 1990). Despite the recognition of this and the fact that elimination is included as part of a patient’s general assessment, specific assessment related to a person’s continence is frequently ignored, even if it is identified that a person has problems with the maintenance of continence. This may be due in part to the attitudinal problems which exist in relation to incontinence (see Chapter 1). Regardless of the reason for this apparent apathy, it cannot be stressed too greatly that appropriate assessment is absolutely essential if a person’s incontinence is to be approached in a meaningful and positive manner; it is only by carrying out a full assessment that the individual patient’s problems can be identified and the cause of the incontinence treated.