Disturbed Energy Field? Yes or No?

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Probably no other nursing diagnosis has garnered as much controversy as this one:

Quote

Disturbed Energy Field

definition: disruption of the flow of energy [aura] surrounding a person's being that

results in a disharmony of the body, mind, and/or spirit

Related Factors

Slowing or blocking of energy flows secondary to:

pathophysologic factors--illness (specify), pregnancy, injury

treatment-related factors--immobility, labor and delivery, perioperative experience, chemotherapy

situational factors (personal environment)--pain, fear, anxiety, grieving

maturational factors--age-related developmental difficulties or crisis (specify)

Defining Characteristics

Objective

Perception of changes in patterns flow, such as--

  • movement (wave/spike/tingling/dense/flowing)
  • sounds (tone/words)
  • temperature change (warmth/coolness)
  • visual changes (image/color)
  • disruption of the field
  • (deficient/hole/spike/bulge/obstruction/congestion/diminished flow in energy
  • field)

Desired outcomes/evaluation criteria--client will:

  • acknowledge feelings of anxiety and distress.
  • verbalize sense of relaxation/well-being.
  • display reduction in severity/frequency of symptoms.

Energy field disturbance - Wikipedia

What is your opinion of "disturbed energy field?" Does nanda need to drop this, as not being scientifically sound, or do we need to keep this, as this attests to the inclusiveness and holistic nature of nursing?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Strictly my opinion here but as an advanced practice nurse, NANDA is garbage and not worth the paper its printed on. This "disturbed energy field" is the height of frivolty and trivializes the entire nursing profession. What's next?

I have heard the arguments that NANDA has a purpose but since its based on nursing process versus medical care, it is not at all current. Nursing students would be better served learning care paths versus nursing care plans. These young nurses need to know the whys and what-fors for the care they are providing as well as knowing what to look for in a specific disease process. Critical thinking is the watch word but its truly just good old fashioned horse sense. If you have a patient that becomes dizzy and light-headed sitting on the bedside and you have orders to ambulate them, you put them back to bed and call the MD to find out what other measures need to be done which might include just sitting them at the bedside for a few minutes, sitting in a chair, etc..

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Does that mean I can't glow while charting?? Awwww and I was looking forward to it. ?

Ooooooooooh I'm glowing even as we speak.

And yes I too believe this is a bogus dx, but then they didn't as me did they?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Tee hee hee...and the truly sad part is that is how this will be perceived by other members of the healthcare team also.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

I forgot about this nursing dx. I think I may start doing it for all my patients when I fill out care plans to see if joint commission actually reads what they check. :devil:

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Hard to believe that people put effort into writing so much , hmmmmmmmm, what is the word, hmmmmmmmm, hooey!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Some of my noncompliant dialysis patients glow too because they are so uremic.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Quote
Definition: Disruption of the flow of energy [aura] surrounding a person’s being that

results in a disharmony of the body, mind, and/or spirit

Man, by that definition, disturbed energy field could apply to anyone.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

That's why I figured I could put the same one on every patient and see how long it takes the educator to notice. :p It's really no more effort than the pain one almost everyone gets. Nobody likes doing them, so I figured I might as well get a little chuckle for my efforts.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
traumaRUs said:
Strictly my opinion here but as an advanced practice nurse, NANDA is garbage and not worth the paper its printed on. This "disturbed energy field" is the height of frivolty and trivializes the entire nursing profession. What's next?

I couldn't agree more.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pain Management.

This is so completely vague and universally applicable that it is nonsensical.

Whatever that means.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
traumaRUs said:

...Nursing students would be better served learning care paths versus nursing care plans. These young nurses need to know the whys and what-fors for the care they are providing as well as knowing what to look for in a specific disease process. Critical thinking is the watch word but its truly just good old fashioned horse sense. If you have a patient that becomes dizzy and light-headed sitting on the bedside and you have orders to ambulate them, you put them back to bed and call the MD to find out what other measures need to be done which might include just sitting them at the bedside for a few minutes, sitting in a chair, etc..

Trauma,

Can you recommend a book for a young nurse to-be (me!) about care paths? I can read I in my spare time.:lol2:

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion