What should a nurse monitor to determine the therapeutic effect of docusate sodium (Colace)?

Monitoring regular bowel movements is key to determining the therapeutic effect of docusate sodium (Colace), which is primarily used as a stool softener. Docusate sodium works by increasing the amount of water absorbed by the stool, making it easier to pass. The desired outcome when using this medication is to have softer, more formed stools that pass without straining; thus, observing for regularity in bowel movements directly reflects the medication's efficacy.

While abdominal pain may indicate gastrointestinal distress, it is not a definitive measure of the effectiveness of docusate sodium. Similarly, reduction in steatorrhea (fat in the stools) may be more related to dietary factors or absorption issues rather than the action of a stool softener. Lastly, while Hematest-negative stools could indicate the absence of blood in the stool, this is not specific to the effectiveness of docusate sodium therapy. Therefore, the most appropriate measure of the therapeutic effect of docusate sodium is indeed regular bowel movements, which indicates that the stool is sufficiently softened and the patient is experiencing relief from constipation.