Introduction
Nursing care plan for immobility is based on the assessment and evaluation of the physical, psychological and social needs of that particular patient. Formerly known as a ‘bed rest phase’, immobility is often prescribed as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of injury, such as falls or fractures, in some cases. Nursing care plans involving immobility must ensure that proper attention is paid to preventing any serious health-consequences caused by immobility.
Assessment
The assessment process of the nursing care plan begins with identifying the patient's current medical condition, lifestyle and overall health status. Assessment of the patient's mobility should include a review of their ability to move about and perform basic tasks, like walking and standing. Questions about the patient's level of activity, nutritional and hydration status, past experiences with immobility and any underlying medical conditions should also be addressed. Physical therapists and/or occupational therapists may be consulted depending on the scope of the patient's mobility limitations.
Nursing Diagnosis
When assessing a patient’s need for immobility, it is important to identify any associated nursing diagnoses. These could include the risk for impaired circulation, risk for tissue breakdown (dependent edema, bedsores), respiratory problems, body image disturbances, and nutrition problems. Other common diagnoses related to immobility include decreased muscle strength, difficulty with ADLs, pain, depression and/or anxiety, and fatigue.
Outcomes
The primary goal of nursing care plan involving immobility is to improve patient outcomes by decreasing the risk of complications associated with immobility. This includes reducing pressure sores, edema, musculoskeletal deformities, and risk of falls, while simultaneously promoting independence and safety. Other objectives include enhancing the patient's self-care, promoting optimal nutrition and hydration intake and improving overall quality of life.
Interventions
Once a patient has been assessed and diagnosed with immobility and its associated nursing diagnoses, a team of healthcare professionals will create an appropriate plan of care, which typically involves bed rest, repositioning, exercise, and muscle strengthening activities, skin care, nutritional monitoring, comfort measures and psychological support. Common nursing interventions for patients with immobility can include positioning the patient in the proper alignment, providing the necessary support devices such as splints and slings, and assisting with range of motion exercises.
Rationales
The rationales behind the interventions mentioned above are based on the assessment findings, clinical judgement and research. It is important to understand why each strategy is being used in order to provide the best possible care for the patient. For instance, positioning the patient in the proper alignment can help prevent pressure sores and maintain muscle strength, while providing support devices will help avoid falls and other injuries due to limited mobility.
Evaluation
Once the patient’s care plans have been implemented, it is important to regularly assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the interventions for desired outcome. This process allows for modifications and changes to be made as necessary, to ensure patient safety and optimize the plan of care. Evaluation should include assessment of the patient's pain, bodily comfort and well-being, mobility status and overall care compliance.
Conclusion
Immobility can cause significant physical and psychological issues for patients; however, with an effective nursing care plan, these issues can be minimized. In many cases, immobility is an inevitable condition associated with certain medical procedures and diseases, but with proper implementation of safety strategies, prevention of adverse effects can be achieved. An integral part of nursing practice, a nursing care plan not only benefits the patient, but also provides comfort for the family members and caregivers involved.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of a nursing care plan for immobility?
The purpose of a nursing care plan for immobility is to identify the patient’s needs and develop interventions and goals to improve their mobility while reducing the risk of any related adverse effects. - What kind of interventions are included in a nursing care plan for immobility?
Common nursing interventions for patients with immobility can include positioning the patient in the proper alignment, providing the necessary support devices such as splints and slings, and assisting with range of motion exercises. - How is an evaluation done for a nursing care plan for immobility?
Evaluation should include assessment of the patient's pain, bodily comfort and well-being, mobility status and overall care compliance. - What are the outcomes of a nursing care plan for immobility?
The primary goal of nursing care plan involving immobility is to improve patient outcomes by decreasing the risk of complications associated with immobility. This includes reducing pressure sores, edema, musculoskeletal deformities, and risk of falls, while simultaneously promoting independence and safety. - What are some of the nursing diagnoses associated with immobility?
When assessing a patient’s need for immobility, it is important to identify any associated nursing diagnoses. These could include the risk for impaired circulation, risk for tissue breakdown (dependent edema, bedsores), respiratory problems, body image disturbances, and nutrition problems.
Leave a Reply