Disturbed Energy Field? Yes or No?

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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?

Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

This would be a good one if you were taking care of psychic with a brain injury or something :chuckle

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nursesaideBen said:
This would be a good one if you were taking care of psychic with a brain injury or something :chuckle

*Sunny in her best Miss Cleo voice*

"Call me now!" :lol2:

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that that dx was related to t-touch (i.e. legitimizing t-touch as a nursing "tool")?

therapeutic touch

And yes, I've been telling all my classmates since day 1 of the program that I was going to list that as my primary dx on all care plans, and have yet to actually do it (chicken!)...

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Can you imagine the kinds of interventions this might lead to???

Honestly, it's stuff like this that makes us look like doofuses (doofi?) to the rest of the medical community.

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Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

Can I call in sick with a disturbed energy field ?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
muffie said:
can i call in sick with a disturbed energy field ?

Weird thing is, it probably wouldn't be the first time someone did that.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
psychonaut said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that that dx was related to t-touch (i.e. legitimizing t-touch as a nursing "tool")?

therapeutic touch

And yes, I've been telling all my classmates since day 1 of the program that I was going to list that as my primary dx on all care plans, and have yet to actually do it (chicken!)...

I've been teaching now for almost 5 years and in all that time, not even one student has attempted this diagnosis for his or her careplan :uhoh21: I don't know how I'd respond if someone actually were to do so. How would one grade or evaluate such a diagnosis????

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I tried to use that a few times....almost got away with it. Had a pt w/ psycho-social issues relating to her hospitalization, loss of a loved one, faced the possibility of long-term chronic care....Ended up with some other one about coping or something more measureable.

But I did use some interventions that would fit the dx of disturbed energy field--imagery, positive self talk, and my reiki flowed a lot too. :)

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VickyRN said:
I've been teaching now for almost 5 years and in all that time, not even one student has attempted this diagnosis for his or her careplan :uhoh21: I don't know how I'd respond if someone actually were to do so. How would one grade or evaluate such a diagnosis????

Probably be the same as when a student includes a low-priority NANDA in a care plan (i.e. psychosocial stuff for an acute patient); technically correct, and probably arguable (since it is a legit NANDA, with NICs to go with it), but way down on the list of priorities, depending on the medical dx.

For a psych careplan, may be easier to get away with...then you may be backed into the corner of Denying the Validity of a NANDA Diagnosis (gasp!).

Whenever we get to that point, we usually get some version of "because I said so" and it is left at that.

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I wonder if I could get some mega bucks grant to study this....I could check and see if my energy fields had any effect on the slot machines

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CHATSDALE said:

I wonder if I could get some mega bucks grant to study this....I could check and see if my energy fields had any effect on the slot machines

Sounds like a road trip to me! Do you need any research assistants? ;)

We could set up our "lab" in the Presidential suite or The Bellagio or Venetian Hotel! :lol2:

*Sunny pulls out her suitcase and sign that reads "VEGAS OR BUST!"

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This kind of thing is such a joke. "Doctor, the patient's left pupil is blown, and he is bleeding out of his ears. Can I get an order to treat his disturbed energy field?"

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