Care Plans the saga continues...

[Mahreah]

Hi All.

I'm a nursing student in my junior year and I'm having an issue with different instructors and their directions on how to do "The Care Plan". My current instructor wants us to evaluate the interventions and not the goals. I'm going crazy because that's what I did in the rationale section of the care plan. I don't think doing it the instructor's way is possible without repeating the rationale portion. Am I the only one that thinks this is "busy work". Or is there a rationale behind this. Care plans are so much fun...

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

The rationale portion of the program (HAHA) can be a short little blurb on your problem list--Spiritual distress r/t ________ blah, blah--

then comes the intervention part. It is easy to just say what you would do for the patient. But you need to give a reason why. You can educate the patient, but using what? How? It is the what and the how that is the focus of this professor. Apparently he/she wants you to expand on the verb part of your care plan. What are you going to do, and how are you going to do it. Focus on resources available.

A really good one to try this on is a discharge care plan. Especially for the complex patient that is going to need services going home. If you think about what you are going to do to get a patient to highest functional level and keep them that way for as long as feasible, even after they are home.

Best wishes and woo hooooo junior year!! You are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Evaluate if your interventions met the goals you set.

For example:

Goal (outcome) - pt will verbalize/demonstrate correct dressing change procedure of surgical wound prior to discharge.

Interventions - Have patient observe dressing change & explain process.

Teach patient to use appropriate supplies

Provide written instructions to patient (with pictures, if possible)

Have patient demonstrate dressing change several times.

Evaluation: patient was able to successfully verbalize & demonstrate proper dressing change of surgical wound. Pt was given written instructions as a guide to use at home. Follow-up appt showed wound heading appropriately. No signs of dehiscence, erythema, warmth, drainage or odor.

Does that make sense?

[Mahreah]

SopranoKris...it makes a boat load of sense. Thank you!

[Mahreah]

Yes I do see the light and I'm trying to get to the end of that tunnel. But I think I'm going to go slightly crazy first. Thanks for your help.