What it means
The emptying of waste from the large intestine. Normal patterns range from about three times a day to three times a week. Nurses note how often, the amount, color, firmness (often with the Bristol Stool Chart), and any blood, mucus or pain.
For the nurse
Ask about the last bowel movement and the client's normal pattern, especially after surgery and with opioids. Report black, tarry or bloody stools, and no stool with a swollen, painful belly.
In a chart
"Last BM yesterday, soft, brown, formed."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | BM |
|---|---|
| Everyday words | poop, stool |
| Spanish | evacuación intestinal, defecación |
| Also written | bowel movements, BM |
Related terms
diarrhea
Loose or watery stools, usually three or more times a day or more often than normal for the person.
constipation
Bowel movements that happen less often than usual, with hard, dry stool that is difficult to pass.
peristalsis
Waves of muscle squeezing that push food and waste along the digestive tract.
bowel
The intestine: the long tube of the digestive tract from the stomach to the anus.