Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Nursing DX priority questions

I am a nursing student who's program bases our care plans on Maslow. At my last clinical I had a patient with Major Depressive Disorder (severe) who was in general good health. I am required to complete 2 care plans, one physiologic and one psychosocial. In trying to prioritize different nursing diagnosis for my physiologic careplan, I keep focusing on the fact that he was on fall risk precautions, had an unsteady gait with shuffle steps, a history of falls, and a medication list that had at least 2 medications that had dizzyness as a side effect. This all points to a safety/ security need according to Maslow (in my oppinion). Since the patient is generally healthy, and we were not allowed to touch the patients for a hands on assesment, could that be considered physical? I tried to relate it back to a more physiological care plan, but the best I could come up with was "impaired mobility". Could anyone offer some hints as to which route they would go?

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    Risk for falls instead of impaired mobility seems like the diagnosis that is more appropriate because his/her mobility is not impaired, balance is.

    This is a physical need, not a psychosocial one. Maslow's addresses both physical and psychosocial needs.

    ETA: Here's your assessment data that points to risk for falls.

    had an unsteady gait with shuffle steps, a history of falls, and a medication list that had at least 2 medications that had dizzyness as a side effect.
  • Quote
    • Author

    Isn't impaired mobility a safety/ security diagnosis, though? (I know it's not psychosocial,) but I was trying to pull a diagnosis that pertained more to a physiological need (rather than safety/ security) which is where I arrived at impaired mobility (although, to be honest I could see that as a safety/ security also). How do you distinguish between a physiological need and a safety/ security need. I know that physiologic means food/ air/ water, but if all of that is healthy, you just go to the next level, right?

  • Quote
    • Experts

    Yes, you're right. I misunderstood a couple things in your post (not an issue with your post...an issue with my interpretation of it). :)

    The only thing I can think of for this particular patient that may be a physiologic (lowest level) need would be hygiene. Does your assessment data reveal any issues with hygiene, which is sometimes a problem with severely depressed patients?

    If not, yes, I would think you would have to move up a level.

  • Quote
    • Author

    Thanks for the help!

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.