Introduction to Problem-Focused Nursing
Problem-focused nursing is an integral part of the healthcare profession, where nurses identify and address specific health issues of patients. This approach is centered around recognizing current health problems and developing appropriate care plans to manage or resolve these issues.What is a Nursing Diagnosis?
A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential health problems. It provides the basis for the selection of nursing interventions to achieve outcomes for which the nurse is accountable. A problem-focused nursing diagnosis identifies an existing health problem.
1. Assessment: Collecting comprehensive data about the patient's health status.
2. Diagnosis: Analyzing the data to identify health problems.
3. Planning: Developing a care plan with goals and outcomes.
4. Implementation: Executing the care plan.
5. Evaluation: Assessing the effectiveness of the interventions.
Examples of Problem-Focused Nursing Diagnoses
Common examples of problem-focused nursing diagnoses include:- Acute Pain: This diagnosis is made when a patient experiences severe discomfort due to injury or surgery.
- Impaired Mobility: Identified when a patient has difficulty moving independently.
- Risk for Infection: Recognized when a patient is more susceptible to infections due to compromised immunity or recent surgery.
- Ineffective Breathing Pattern: Diagnosed when a patient has irregular or difficult breathing.
1. Problem: The specific health issue identified.
2. Etiology: The cause or contributing factors of the problem.
3. Symptoms: The clinical manifestations or signs and symptoms experienced by the patient.
For example, in the diagnosis "Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient reporting pain level of 8/10," the problem is "Acute Pain," the etiology is "related to surgical incision," and the symptoms are "as evidenced by patient reporting pain level of 8/10."
- Provide individualized care tailored to each patient's specific needs.
- Prioritize urgent health issues that require immediate attention.
- Improve patient outcomes by addressing the root causes of health problems.
- Enhance patient satisfaction through targeted and effective nursing interventions.
- Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration by clearly identifying patient needs and required interventions.
How Do Nurses Prioritize Nursing Diagnoses?
Nurses prioritize nursing diagnoses based on the severity of the health problem and the potential impact on the patient's overall health. Prioritization is often guided by frameworks such as
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which categorizes needs from basic physiological requirements to self-actualization. Life-threatening issues such as airway obstruction or severe bleeding are addressed first.
- Complex Patient Conditions: Patients with multiple comorbidities may present with overlapping health issues, making diagnosis and intervention more complex.
- Limited Resources: In some settings, nurses may face constraints in terms of time, staff, or equipment, affecting the quality of care.
- Patient Non-compliance: Patients may not adhere to prescribed interventions, complicating the management of their health problems.
- Communication Barriers: Differences in language, culture, or patient education levels can hinder effective communication and understanding.
Conclusion
Problem-focused nursing is essential for providing effective and individualized patient care. By accurately identifying and addressing specific health issues, nurses play a vital role in improving patient outcomes and ensuring high-quality care. Despite challenges, the systematic approach of problem-focused nursing remains a cornerstone of the nursing profession.
