Unstable blood glucose refers to a deviation from normal blood glucose levels that results in either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Unstable blood glucose does not necessarily mean the patient is diabetic. For example, in temporary situations such as dehydration or pregnancy, when the source is resolved, blood sugar levels may return to normal. That being said, … Read more
Aspiration occurs when food, secretions, fluids, or other substances enter the airways or lungs. When you swallow, the epiglottis should close over the trachea which prevents food or fluids from entering the trachea (often called the windpipe). If this mechanism fails, unintended substances can end up in the lungs which can cause complications such as … Read more
Ineffective airway clearance is the inability to clear secretions or obstructions from the respiratory tract. This can be detrimental to breathing and create complications. Secretions can be problematic as a result of a condition such as cystic fibrosis or related to an inability to clear secretions such as with a stroke deficit or the presence … Read more
Impaired verbal communication describes an inability to receive, relay, or process language. The reasons for this can range broadly from a language barrier to a physical barrier impeding speech. Conditions such as autism can cause developmental speech delays while a stroke can lead to a wide array of speech deficits. Some impairments can be overcome … Read more
Hopelessness occurs when a patient sees no alternative to their situation and is unable to energize themselves to overcome obstacles. Hopelessness is often seen in healthcare as patients suffer from chronic diseases or traumatic accidents that prevent them from living life to their full ability. When patients cannot perform ADLs, maintain a career, or parent … Read more
Noncompliance occurs when a patient (family, caregiver, guardian) fails to adhere to a healthcare provider’s recommendations or prescribed treatment plan. This can include medications, procedures, follow-up appointments, and lifestyle modifications. It is important to note that noncompliance has a negative connotation as it refers more to a provider deciding on a suitable treatment with the … Read more
Insomnia is the disruption in the amount and quality of sleep to the extent that it impairs functioning. Inadequate sleep can have detrimental effects on a patient’s physical and mental well-being. Our bodies repair themselves when we sleep and sleep restores our mental clarity. Insomnia can be temporary and will resolve once the cause is … Read more
Acute confusion is an abrupt disruption in consciousness, attention, cognition, and perception. It is reversible and is a symptom of an underlying condition. Causes can range in severity and pinpointing the precipitating factor is important in order to treat the patient and improve confusion. The nurse’s role in acute confusion is to first ensure patient … Read more
Impaired urinary elimination can occur as a result of a physical abnormality, a sensory impairment, or as a secondary cause of a disorder or disease. Symptoms can vary widely from bladder distention to painful urination to a complete lack of bladder control. Treatment depends on the cause and can include noninvasive interventions such as bladder … Read more
Urinary retention is a condition that develops when an individual is not able to empty his or her bladder of urine. It can be either an acute, a sudden change, or it can be a chronic condition in which the individual gradually over time is unable to completely empty his or her bladder. Signs and … Read more
Hyperthermia is a body temperature above 104°F (40°C). Hyperthermia occurs when the body’s thermoregulatory system fails. Heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke from long periods in high temperatures are preventable. Other causes such as sepsis, the body’s inability to perspire and cool itself down such as with spinal cord injuries, or hyperthyroidism … Read more
A person suffers from disturbed body image when one is confused about the mental image of their own physical self. Some signs that a patient may be experiencing this is when s/he refuses to look at or touch their body, verbally expresses negative feelings about their body, experiences a change in social involvement, expresses fear … Read more
Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements often characterized by loose stools and urgency. Diarrhea can be acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic (lasting for weeks). Mild cases will resolve on their own while more severe cases accompanied by an infectious process, cancer, or disease, can lead to dehydration and … Read more
Hospitalized patients are at an increased risk of electrolyte imbalance meaning simply they are more susceptible to changes in their electrolyte levels that could potentially compromise their health. Electrolytes are a vital part of normal body function. The electrolytes help maintain electrical neutrality in cells. Likewise, they help to generate and conduct action potentials in … Read more
Fluid volume deficit also known as dehydration can be a common occurrence and nursing diagnosis for many patients. Dehydration is when there is a loss of too much fluid from the body. This leads to a lack of water in the body’s cells and blood vessels. It is due to more fluids being expelled from … Read more
Impaired comfort is a multidimensional diagnosis used to describe the physical, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual challenges a patient encounters. Comfort levels vary between patients and age groups and are dynamic. It is recommended the nurse assess for a specific cause of impaired comfort as much as possible in order to best intervene. Pain and … Read more
Social isolation and loneliness may seem like an insignificant problem but it has the potential to be debilitating to patients and reduce their quality of life. While all patients for a multitude of reasons can be at risk for isolation, older adults have the highest risk due to their loss of spouses and friends, living … Read more
Ineffective coping is the inability to manage, respond to, or make decisions surrounding a stressful situation. Stressors and everyday demands such as work schedules, school deadlines, family needs, and more can compound on top of more serious stressors such as divorce or the loss of a loved one. Patients dealing with chronic, life-altering, or even … Read more
Having a balanced nutrition is vital to an individual’s health and well-being. Imbalanced nutrition refers to either nutrition that is more than or less than the body’s requirements and metabolic needs. It can occur with any individual. Listed below is a brief list of potential causes that may result in an individual experiencing an imbalance … Read more
An anxiety disorder is considered a chronic condition in which the individual has an excessive and persistent sense of apprehension. It can often result in repeated episodes of sudden intense feelings of fear, terror, or being anxious. These episodes are then commonly referred to as panic attacks. The anxiety that causes these can become quite … Read more
Fatigue is a feeling of being extremely overtired that makes it challenging for the individual to carry out their regular activity and normal daily routines. It can cause individuals to feel as if they have no energy to complete their tasks. It also makes some feel that they need to sleep much more often, but … Read more
The nursing diagnosis of activity intolerance is defined as a person having insufficient physiologic or psychologic energy to endure or complete their required or desired daily activities. This can include a wide spectrum of individuals from a pediatric patient to the elderly patient. Individuals that have experienced a decrease in activity in the past or … Read more
Cardiac output is the amount of blood being pumped by the heart per minute and measured in liters/minute. It is calculated by multiplying the stroke volume, which is the amount of blood pumped out of the left ventricle during each systolic cardiac contraction, and the heart rate. Cardiac output is affected by three other factors … Read more
Ineffective health maintenance incorporates components of related nursing diagnoses. Specific diagnoses such as impaired communication, confusion, grieving, hopelessness, spiritual distress, and many others can correlate to ineffective health maintenance. Regardless of the reason, it prevents the patient from identifying, managing, or seeking help to maintain their health. Ineffective health maintenance can be the result of … Read more
Pain can be considered acute or chronic. Chronic pain occurs when pain signals continue to fire in the nervous system. This is ongoing, lasting longer than the typical healing timeframe which is typically defined as pain that is present for longer than 3-6 months. Every person will experience pain differently and every individual’s tolerance for … Read more
A knowledge deficit in relation to healthcare is a lack of information needed for a thorough understanding of a disease process and recommended treatments and the ability to make informed choices or carry out tasks in alignment with health maintenance. A huge barrier to understanding health-related information is low health literacy. Patients with low health … Read more
Impaired physical mobility is a common nursing diagnosis found among most patients at one time or another. It can be a temporary, permanent or worsening problem and has the potential to create larger issues such as skin breakdown, infections, falls, and social isolation. Advancing age is the most common risk factor of impaired physical mobility … Read more
Ineffective tissue perfusion describes the lack of oxygenated blood flow to areas of the body. Proper perfusion is detrimental to the function of organs and body systems as organs and tissues that are not perfusing will die. Understanding the causes of inadequate perfusion, assessment, monitoring, and interventions is imperative for nurses. Ineffective tissue perfusion can … Read more
Unfortunately, injuries happen in healthcare and can take on many different forms. It is vital the nurse is aware of potential injuries, assesses for risks, implements the necessary actions to minimize risks, and knows how to care for a patient should an injury occur. An injury is considered any type of damage to one’s body. … Read more
An ineffective breathing pattern is defined as inspiration and/or expiration that does not provide adequate oxygenation. This diagnosis is related to the observed rate and depth of breathing, as well as abnormal chest expansion, and accessory muscle use that results in a breathing pattern that does not supply adequate ventilation to the body. The ABCs; … Read more