Treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse and/or Urinary Incontinence
Treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse and/or Urinary Incontinence
The available literature between 1990 and 2004 was reviewed to determine if the nurse's role in the use of vaginal pessaries to treat pelvic organ prolapse and/or urinary incontinence is well defined. Forty-five articles were reviewed, including one written by a physician's assistant, two written by both a physician and a registered nurse, seven written by registered nurses, 34 written by physicians,and one unpublished manuscript. Nurses could make a valuable contribution to the bank of information available on the use of vaginal pessaries to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
As part of the nursing assessment of patients in women's health clinics, women are asked if they experience symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP). With the myriad of information available to women today to help them manage health-related issues, nurses who initially assess these women should pursue this aspect of care beyond handing patients a sheet of paper with instructions for performing pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises. Urogynecology nursing, continence nursing, and the use of vaginal pessaries are relatively new to nurses in Canada. Interested nurses could make a valuable contribution through research and clinical practice to the limited knowledge in this field.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
The available literature between 1990 and 2004 was reviewed to determine if the nurse's role in the use of vaginal pessaries to treat pelvic organ prolapse and/or urinary incontinence is well defined. Forty-five articles were reviewed, including one written by a physician's assistant, two written by both a physician and a registered nurse, seven written by registered nurses, 34 written by physicians,and one unpublished manuscript. Nurses could make a valuable contribution to the bank of information available on the use of vaginal pessaries to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
As part of the nursing assessment of patients in women's health clinics, women are asked if they experience symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP). With the myriad of information available to women today to help them manage health-related issues, nurses who initially assess these women should pursue this aspect of care beyond handing patients a sheet of paper with instructions for performing pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises. Urogynecology nursing, continence nursing, and the use of vaginal pessaries are relatively new to nurses in Canada. Interested nurses could make a valuable contribution through research and clinical practice to the limited knowledge in this field.