Nursing Diagnosis dress up

Freedom42 · Feb 26, 2009

I'd have no problem acting out "knowledge deficit!"

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2009

oh, now this is fun! what you basically need to do is look at the list of defining characteristics (signs and symptoms) for a diagnosis. your instructor wants to see you act out some of the signs and symptoms of a diagnosis. every diagnosis has signs and symptoms (in nursing nanda calls them defining characteristics). you can find a list of commonly used diagnoses and you can link into them and get the defining characteristics as well, here: http://www1.us.elsevierhealth.com/evolve/ackley/ndh7e/constructor/

my first thought was acute or chronic confusion. when you have to perform you act disoriented (don't know your name, time or place), forget what you are told, stand in front of the class and don't know why you are there, just say, "hi, how are you? can i get something to drink?", stroll around aimlessly and i would even just meander out of the room rummaging through stuff on people's desks as i went. if you need to link it to a related factor (cause) i would go for drug abuse (look at how ozzie osborn parades around and no one understands what the heck he says or does half the time--although he is probably more impaired verbal communication!)

along the same vein (i worked in nursing homes a lot, so i saw these things!) for a dressing/grooming self-care deficit you can wear mismatched socks and shoes or one shoe only, button a shirt so the buttons/buttonholes do not match, wear funny boxer shorts and no pants, and if you wear makeup clearly put it on wrong. you can just wear dirty/smelly clothes.

chronic pain might be another. this is different from acute pain. i can't tell you how many pain medication addicts i've had as patients over the years and no nurse likes having some of them as patients because they are such a pain the orifice--pun intended. every other sentence coming out of their mouth is about their pain, what they have to endure and when is their next pain medication. so, their personalities are just very trying to be around. but, they can be sad sacks. depressed. they can be sleepy and inattentive--especially if they have narcotics on board and they are physically addicted to them. they can be irritable when you talk to them and they can get quite nasty if they really don't want to be bothered. they will either (1) sit quietly in a lump, close their eyes and meditate in their pain just gritting their teeth and waiting for the next dose of medication, or (2) pace restlessly also gritting their teeth and waiting for the next dose of medication.

if you are any good with makeup you could do impaired skin integrity. impaired skin only needs to be redness or a simple break in the skin like a scratch or a pimple, so measles, acne, the mother of all zits, bruises such as a black eye, or any kind of burn (bad sunburn, burn from fire will have a charcoal look) will work.

you can get a wrist or knee splint from the drug store, put it on and you have instant impaired physical mobility. it would be even better if you can get your hands on a leg splint--the kind they use to immobilize the entire lower leg and knee. the arm and fingers can be immobilized using ace wraps pretty well. i had carpal and ulnar tunnel surgery this summer and my left hand, wrist and elbow were splinted for 2 weeks. the problem was not being able to move my elbow. i couldn't tie my shoes, wipe my butt, or draw up the cat's insulin. people don't think about these kinds of adls until it happens to them, but having any kind of splint or using a cane or walker is impaired physical mobility.

two others are impaired gas exchange or activity intolerance. it's easy to fake getting short of breath and you can put a fine dusting of cornstarch on your face to make yourself look pale (not necessarily cyanotic) and hold a spray bottle of water as far back from your face as you can and spritz your face with water to look like perspiration for the symptoms of impaired gas exchange. to do activity intolerance i wouldn't do the cornstarch, add some wheezing or increase your breathing, proclaim that your heart is racing and that you can't take another step, insist that you must sit down and that your blood pressure must be sky high and i would say, "i hope i don't get a stroke."

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2009

BTW, which diagnosis were you thinking of?

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Feb 26, 2009

I stated in my original post that I was thinking of Ineffective coping. THe plan was to come dressed in old clothes and curl up in a ball in the corner and cry and say things like "I can't take this anymore" "I dont' know what to do" etc.

I REALLY like your confusion idea! I think I may go with that because that one would be fun!