Clinical skills: nursing considerations in patients with faecal incontinence.

Faecal incontinence is a distressing and socially debilitating problem. Nurses are ideally placed to support patients and assist them in improving their quality of life. In order to provide the necessary holistic care the nurse needs to understand the nature of the patient's symptoms and be aware of a variety of management interventions. In this article the author outlines the various causes of faecal incontinence and highlights the importance of a thorough nursing assessment which takes into account the physical, psychological and social aspects of the symptoms. Planned care should be based on a firm knowledge base, but should reflect the needs of the individual. A good nurse-patient interaction facilitates this process and should be valued.