Nursing care plan for aplastic anemia

Introduction

Aplastic Anemia is a condition that causes the bone marrow to produce insufficient amounts of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. This can cause fatigue, increased risk of infection, and bruising. A nursing plan for this diagnosis should include assessments to identify any potential complications, nursing diagnosis for treatment, outcomes based on patient preferences, interventions tailored to their needs and capabilities, rationales for interventions and evaluation of goal attainment.

Assessment

Bleeding Symptoms: Patients with aplastic anemia may experience excessive bleeding due to low levels of platelets. Evaluating any signs or symptoms of increased bleeding such as bruising, petechiae, and or epistaxis should be performed early to effectively treat the patient.

Infection Risk: Patient with aplastic anemia are at increased risk of infection due to decreased lymphocytes and immunoglobulin production. Assess for any signs of infection such as fever, chills, body aches, and increased respiratory rate.

Nursing Diagnosis

Risk for Deficient Fluid Volume related to anemia – anemia causes decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels leading to decreased oxygenation of the tissues.

Ineffective individual Coping related to Disease: the diagnosis of aplastic anemia can be life changing and have a significant impact on the patient’s daily life.

Outcomes

Patient will maintain adequate fluid volume within normal range: Patient will exhibit adequate hydration, no signs of decreased output, non-tachycardic, and non-baric heart rate.

Patient will demonstrate effective coping strategies: the patient will use newly acquired techniques to better manage symptoms, resources and life changes.

Interventions

Fluid Balance Intervention: assess input versus output, provide information about the benefits of consuming adequate fluids and monitor for potential dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Supportive Counseling Interventions:Provide patient with psychological support, emotional validation, and educational resources to help cope with a chronic illness.

Rationales

Fluid Balance Intervention: assessment of hydration status helps facilitate adequate intake and output to prevent dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and physiological changes related to inadequate fluid volume.

Supportive Counseling Interventions: the supportive counseling intervention helps the patient process information and adaptive coping skills to improve quality of life.

Evaluation

The patient was able to maintain adequate fluid volume and demonstrated effective coping strategies which led to improved quality of life during follow up.

Conclusion

Nursing care plans for aplastic anemia should include assessment for potential complications, nursing diagnoses, client outcomes, interventions tailored to the individual, rationale for interventions, and evaluation of goals. The primary focus should be optimizing the patient’s quality of life and ensuring that any needs or desires expressed by the patient are met.

FAQs

• What is aplastic anemia?
  Aplastic anemia is a condition that causes the bone marrow to produce insufficient amounts of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets.
• What is a nursing care plan?
  A nursing care plan is a document that outlines the nursing care needed for a patient. It includes assessment for potential complications, nursing diagnosis for treatment, outcomes based on patient preferences, interventions tailored to the individual, and rationale for interventions.
• What are interventions for aplastic anemia?
  Interventions for aplastic anemia include monitoring for potential dehydration and electrolyte imbalances and providing the patient with psychological support and adapted coping skills.
• What are the goals of a nursing care plan?
  The primary goal of a nursing care plan is to optimize the patient’s quality of life while meeting any needs or desires expressed by the patient.
• How is evaluation of a care plan conducted?
  Evaluation of a care plan is conducted based on whether the patient has achieved the desired outcomes. If the desired outcomes are not achieved, adjustments to the plan must be made.