Nursing Care Plan for Ineffective Health Maintenance

Nursing Diagnosis for Ineffective Health Maintenance

NANDA Definition: Inability to identify, manage, and/or seek help to maintain health

Altered health maintenance reflects a change in an individual’s ability to perform the functions necessary to maintain health or wellness. That individual may already manifest symptoms of existing or impending physical ailment or display behaviors that are strongly or certainly linked to disease. The nurse’s role is to identify factors that contribute to an individual’s inability to maintain healthy behavior and implement measures that will result in improved health maintenance activities. The nurse may encounter patients who are experiencing an alteration in their ability to maintain health either in the hospital or in the community, but the increased presence of the nurse in the community and home health settings improves the ability to assess patients in their own environment. Patients most likely to experience more than transient alterations in their ability to maintain their health are those whose age or infirmity (either physical or emotional) absorb much of their resources. The task before the nurse is to identify measures that will be successful in empowering patients to maintain their own health within the limits of their ability.

Defining Characteristics:

Behavioral characteristics:

• Demonstrated lack of knowledge
• Failure to keep appointments
• Expressed interest in improving behaviors
• Failure to recognize or respond to important symptoms reflective of changing health state
• Inability to follow instructions or programs for health maintenance

Physical characteristics :

• Body or mouth odor
• Unusual skin color, pallor
• Poor hygiene
• Soiled clothing
• Frequent infections (e.g., upper respiratory infection [URI], urinary tract infection [UTI])
• Frequent toothaches
• Obesity or anorexia
• Anemia
• Chronic fatigue
• Apathetic attitude
• Substance abuse

Related Factors:

• Presence of mental retardation, illness, organic brain syndrome
• Presence of physical disabilities or challenges
• Presence of adverse personal habits:
• Smoking
• Poor diet selection
• Morbid obesity
• Alcohol abuse
• Drug abuse
• Poor hygiene
• Lack of exercise
• Evidence of impaired perception
• Low income
• Lack of knowledge
• Poor housing conditions
• Risk-taking behaviors
• Inability to communicate needs adequately (e.g., deafness, speech impediment)
• Dramatic change in health status
• Lack of support systems
• Denial of need to change current habits

Expected Outcomes

• Patient describes positive health maintenance behaviors such as keeping scheduled appointments, participating in smoking and substance abuse programs, making diet and exercise changes, improving home environment, and following treatment regimen.
• Patient identifies available resources.
• Patient uses available resources.

NOC Outcomes (Nursing Outcomes Classification)
Suggested NOC Labels

• Health-Promoting Behavior
• Self-Direction of Care
• Health-Seeking Behavior
• Social Support

NIC Interventions (Nursing Interventions Classification)
Suggested NIC Labels

• Health System Guidance
• Support System Enhancement
• Discharge Planning
• Health Screening
• Risk Identification

Read More : http://nandadiagnosis.blogspot.com/2011/08/nursing-diagnosis-for-ineffective_28.html