Nursing Diagnoses for Pulmonary Fibrosis

With pulmonary fibrosis there are many different nursing diagnoses and nursing interventions that one can make to help out their patient and allow them to live a much more normal life. Many of these nursing diagnoses are things that one can expect to happen to someone with this condition and the nursing interventions are the steps that can be made by the nurse and patient to help the patient to get through these problems with less complications and discomfort.

           

One of the most important nursing diagnoses is poor gas exchange. This normally happens because of all of the pulmonary scarring. With this nursing diagnosis the nurse mostly needs to listen to the patients respiratory sounds to make sure they are normally and they need to look for the telltale signs of poor oxygen saturation which are change in mental status, change in skin color, and trouble breathing. It also helps to raise the head of the bed so the patient can breath easier. 

Another nursing diagnosis is an imbalanced nutrition. This normally happens due to the fatigue, medications, and low oxygen levels that come with many respiratory diseases. To help with poor nutrition it is best for the nurse to really listen to the patient and to give good education. It can also be helpful to weigh the patient and help them to make a scheduled diet.

A third nursing diagnosis for pulmonary fibrosis is risk for infection. This is due to the lowered immune response in the lungs, malnutrition, and low oxygen levels. As a nurse it is important to monitor temperature frequently, to be cautious with visitors, and to discuss how important nutrition and adequate intake are when you are sick.

Activity intolerance is a fourth nursing diagnosis. Activity intolerance is normally from the fatigue that comes with the low oxygen levels. To help with this a nurse should assess the amount of energy the patient has and help them to make guidelines and schedules to at least exercise some a day. It's also good for the nurse to help wherever it seems necessary with activities of daily living. 

The last nursing diagnosis is alteration in comfort due to pulmonary fibrosis. As a nurse it is very helpful to give pain medications as seems fit and to respond quickly to complaints of pain. It is also good to try some non-pharmaceutical methods and to make sure they are comfortable enough to get the rest that they need.

All of these diagnoses and interventions are very important when dealing with someone with pulmonary fibrosis but the most important thing to remember is to always treat for your specific patient. Here is a great website to help know how to care for someone with respiratory diseases! 

http://nursingcrib.com/nursing-notes-reviewer/nursing-diagnosis-for-respiratory-diseases/

Poor Gas Exchange	Nursing Diagnosis
Actual or Potential	Impaired gas exchange from scarring
Related To	Altered oxygen supply, alveolar scarring, alveolar capillary membrane changes
Plan and Outcome	Improve ventilation, adequate oxygenation, no signs of respiratory distress, pulse oximeter levels above 95%
Nursing Interventions	Assess and record respiratory function, elevate head of bed, routinely monitor skin coloration, encourage cough to get rid of sputum, monitor level of consciousness, evaluate sleep and comfort.

References:

"EHS: Nursing Diagnosis Care Plans, 4/e - Pain." EHS: Nursing Diagnosis Care Plans, 4/e - Pain. Web. 1 Mar. 2015. <http://www1.us.elsevierhealth.com/MERLIN/Gulanick/archive/Constructor/gulanick39.html>.

"Pulmonary Fibrosis - Care Guide." Pulmonary Fibrosis - Care Guide. Web. 1 Mar. 2015. <http://www.drugs.com/cg/pulmonary-fibrosis.html>.

Nursing Diagnosis for Respiratory Diseases | Nursing Crib (Nursing Crib)

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