Question

Your home health care patient is a 10-year-old girl who has been unresponsive since she was toddler, after a cardiac arrest. Over the years, you have seen her undergo numerous hospitalizations from infection. She has a tracheostomy, gastric feeding tube, and suprapubic catheter. The child is a full code. Her single mother provides care day and night with little family support. Upon entering the home, you find the mother holding her daughter’s hand. Sobbing, she says to you, “I can’t do this anymore. Please help me let her go.” A) list nursing diagnosis for this case study.

Answer 1

Nursing Diagnosis

1. Lack of initiative due to long term stress (for mother)

2. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions as evidenced by shortness of breath

3. Risk of infection related to wound and tube

4. Risk of ineffective therapeutic regimen management related to knowledge deficit about home care and the feeding procedure

5. Ineffective coping related to inability to eat normally

6. Imbalanced nutrition, less than body requirements related to enteral feeding problems

7. Risk of UTI due to improper catheter care