Correct Nursing Diagnosis

[emailmetoday817]

Is this an appropriate nursing diagnosis?

Acute pain related to pancreatits as evidenced by guarding behavior.

If not, please explain what is incorrect. Thanks!

[zilla704]

For my clinical preceptor I would have to word it differently. I would have to say "Acute abdominal pain related to inflammation of the pancreas (insert secondary if you know i.e., gallstones, alcoholism, etc.) as manifested by .... You could use guarding, reported pain on the 10 pt pain scale, elevated VS, etc.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I would change "pancreatitis" which is generally felt to be a medical diagnosis to "diseased condition of the pancreas". Tell me, do you know what "guarding behavior" is? Can you think of another way to word that? Guarding is when a person prevents movement of a specific body part to avoid causing pain.

[tachybradyRN]

For my clinical professor, we are not allowed to use medical diagnoses (i.e. pancreatitis) as related to's.. only as secondary to's.

I would word the diagnosis like this:

Acute pain r/t inflammatory process 2* Pancreatitis.

[emailmetoday817]

Thanks for your feedback---- For the record . . . my clinical instructor changed my nursing diagnosis to this (how it was stated) and I thought that it was incorrect also.

[emailmetoday817]

Thanks for your response --- Yes, I am aware of what guarding behavior is--- and you are correct in your defintion.

[nrsman1]

I agree with not using a medical diagnosis. Our instructors do not allow that. And something important to keep in mind can you do something about your etiology. for exampl. risk for infection r/t alteration in skin integrity. You can do something about the skin integrity IE. dressing changes, encourage increase in protein intake, teaching aseptic technique and so forth.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Go with what your clinical instructor changed it to.