Secondary diagnosis

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 14, 2017

OK - now I am confused. Are you telling us that "secondary diagnosis of personality disorder" is a qualification needed by people seeking to fill the job??? Or is this a type of client that is cared for by people in this job?

I really hope it's the latter. Although . . . in some organizations . . . . :rolleyes:

BurcuDoner · Mar 14, 2017

Hi, sorry yes its a type of client that is cared for.

Cat365 · Mar 14, 2017

It means that the patients this place deals with have a personality disorder such as borderline personality disorder in addition to the main diagnosis.

Depending on the type of facility you are applying to. The main diagnosis is likely a medical one. Such as diabetes Or congestive heart failure.

this can complicate treating the medical diagnosis and requires that the nurse be able to handle patients with psychiatric issues as well as medical issues.

BurcuDoner · Mar 14, 2017

It means that the patients this place deals with have a personality disorder such as borderline personality disorder in addition to the main diagnosis.
Depending on the type of facility you are applying to. The main diagnosis is likely a medical one. Such as diabetes Or congestive heart failure.
this can complicate treating the medical diagnosis and requires that the nurse be able to handle patients with psychiatric issues as well as medical issues.

oh ok so its like, the person would have a condition and in addition would have a secondary diagnosis of personality disorder ? Thank you so much for helping, I am a fresher so its so new to me

BurcuDoner · Mar 14, 2017

OK - now I am confused. Are you telling us that "secondary diagnosis of personality disorder" is a qualification needed by people seeking to fill the job??? Or is this a type of client that is cared for by people in this job?
I really hope it's the latter. Although . . . in some organizations . . . .

Hi, Just realised I didn't reply to your comment, I meant a type of client that is cared for. :)

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2017

oh ok so its like, the person would have a condition and in addition would have a secondary diagnosis of personality disorder ? Thank you so much for helping, I am a fresher so its so new to me

Yes. The primary diagnosis is the reason the patient is in the hospital/treatment facility. A secondary diagnosis is another condition that influences their medical needs. A few examples:

A woman admitted to rehab after an elective hip replacement with a secondary diagnosis of hypertension.

A teenager admitted for new onset Type 1 diabetes with a secondary diagnosis of asthma.

A man admitted to the cardiac floor for chest pain (angina) with a secondary diagnosis of obesity.

BurcuDoner · Mar 14, 2017

Yes. The primary diagnosis is the reason the patient is in the hospital/treatment facility. A secondary diagnosis is another condition that influences their medical needs. A few examples:
A woman admitted to rehab after an elective hip replacement with a secondary diagnosis of hypertension.
A teenager admitted for new onset Type 1 diabetes with a secondary diagnosis of asthma.
A man admitted to the cardiac floor for chest pain (angina) with a secondary diagnosis of obesity.

Thank you so much, this really helped a lot. xx

nutella, MSN, RN · Mar 14, 2017

Yes. The primary diagnosis is the reason the patient is in the hospital/treatment facility. A secondary diagnosis is another condition that influences their medical needs. A few examples:
A woman admitted to rehab after an elective hip replacement with a secondary diagnosis of hypertension.
A teenager admitted for new onset Type 1 diabetes with a secondary diagnosis of asthma.
A man admitted to the cardiac floor for chest pain (angina) with a secondary diagnosis of obesity.

They want to make sure you know that you apply to a floor where most likely you will run into challenges that are related to the secondary dx - it requires a special skill set to deal with those clients day in and day out. Many nurses know that they do not want to deal with that.

You may need special strategies when caring for that patient - perhaps that person is trying to manipulate everybody, is unable to perform self-care, self-management of medical illness or will be "not compliant" due to the MH stuff.

It can be very frustrating to care for a patient who will stop medication to get sick so they are being "cared for" because they are coping by attention seeking.