Concept mapping, client had no true diagnosis!

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Specializes in ICU, Radiology,Infectious Disease,Forensic Nursing.

Hey everyone! I am doing my first concept map and am stumped about what to put as my client's pathophysiology. The client was admitted with nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain (unable to be specific about pain and what makes it worse or better.) The client was in the hospital for a day will all normal blood values and laps. All diagnostic tests were negative. The nurses and doctor believed the client was faking symptoms because not only did they appear to be in perfect health, but no vomiting or diarrhea was occurring.

I've already stretched this concept map as much as I can but I got nothing for the patho. Because there was no found cause for her complaints I have no clue what to put! Would unknown pathology be acceptable?

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Specializes in Emergency.

I know it's not confirmed or anything, but, if they were vomiting or having diarrhea, could you discuss alkalosis (metabolic or respiratory)? Were ABGs ever done, by chance? :)

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I know it's not confirmed or anything, but, if they were vomiting or having diarrhea, could you discuss alkalosis (metabolic or respiratory)? Were ABGs ever done, by chance? :)

If not, you'd at least have CO2 in the Chem 6 or 12.

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Specializes in ICU, Radiology,Infectious Disease,Forensic Nursing.

Honestly we have just began discussing all of the different components of acid base balance, so I am not knowledgeable about ABG's yet. That information is about three weeks out lol.

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You can't medically diagnose someone so if it's unknown, then it's unknown and I personally would state that. You can't just make something up.

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Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.

And if they don't have a gi pathology, what is making them"fake it" are they attention deprived? Somatic disorder?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Honestly we have just began discussing all of the different components of acid base balance, so I am not knowledgeable about ABG's yet. That information is about three weeks out lol.

You still examine abdominal pain...what causes it, what tests they did and why.

Look at this thread about care mapping and tell me what you think from there....https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/can-someone-help-911442-page4.html#post7800528

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Your diagnosis might have the dreaded word "idiopathic" in it. Doctors hate that word...I think it makes them feel as if they've failed! Did it pop up in any of the Medical notes? Was there a psych consult?

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When in doubt you always have wellness diagnoses!!! ;)

Readiness for enhanced...

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Specializes in ICU, Radiology,Infectious Disease,Forensic Nursing.

My instructor accepted that there was no true diagnosis at the end of shift. I just decided that since there was no true diagnosis it was safe to just state that.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

How did you do a care map with no diagnosis? YOu could still just do what they presented with...nausea pain and diarrhea.

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