Can I Get Some Help With Maslow's Needs?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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For doing my care plan, I have trouble coming up with needs for things like lack of energy to move, failure to thrive and impaired memory.

These aren't physical needs and they're not safety needs or any of the others.

Can I just put for example, Lack of energy to move, maslow's need being "movement, or activity?"

How are we supposed to come up with these needs?

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

are you asking how a nursing diagnosis is classified by maslow's hierarchy of needs? several care plan and nursing diagnosis books have lists where they have already done this. first of all, be aware that a nursing diagnosis is merely a name for a nursing problem. it is important to know what the definition of that problem is because that will tell you what the meaning of the problem really is. the patient's symptoms that have classified them to that nursing problem are also important because there are levels within the major maslow designations (ex: you are attempting to classify one of your diagnoses as a need for movement or activity which is a level under the physiological needs)

i've never heard of a nanda diagnosis of lack of energy to move. it sounds like it might be similar to fatigue which is defined as an overwhelming sustained sense of exhaustion and decreased capacity for physical and mental work at usual level (page 133,nanda international nursing diagnoses: definitions and classifications 2009-2011). this is classified as a one of the physiological needs for movement.

adult failure to thrive is a growth and development diagnosis. it is defined as progressive functional deterioration of a physical and cognitive nature. the individual's ability to live with multisystem diseases, cope with ensuing problems, and manage his or her care is remarkably diminished. (page 359, nanda international nursing diagnoses: definitions and classifications 2009-2011) therefore, it is classified under maslow as a love and belonging need for support.

impaired memory is a safety and security need and will depend on the patient's symptoms as to whether it is for protection or safety from threat. the definition of impaired memory is the inability to remember or recall bits of information or behavioral skills (page 173, nanda international nursing diagnoses: definitions and classifications 2009-2011).

here is the maslow priority pyramid broken down for you:

  1. physiological needs (in the following order)
    • the need for oxygen and to breathe [the brain gets top priority for oxygen, then the oxgenation of the heart followed by oxygenation of the lung tissue itself, breathing problems come next, then heart and circulation problems--this is based upon how fast these organs die or fail based upon the lack of oxygen and their function.]
    • the need for food and water
    • the need to eliminate and dispose of bodily wastes
    • the need to control body temperature
    • the need to move
    • the need for rest
    • the need for comfort

[*]safety and security needs (in the following order)

  • safety from physiological threat
  • safety from psychological threat
  • protection
  • continuity
  • stability
  • lack of danger

[*]love and belonging needs

  • affiliation
  • affection
  • intimacy
  • support
  • reassurance

[*]self-esteem needs

  • sense of self-worth
  • self-respect
  • independence
  • dignity
  • privacy
  • self-reliance

[*]self-actualization

  • recognition and realization of potential
  • growth
  • health
  • autonomy

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