Nursing Dx problems (fluid volume deficit r/t infection)

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2008

An infection cannot be the cause (etiology) of a Deficient Fluid Volume. Also infection is a medical diagnosis and cannot be a related factor of a nursing diagnostic statement. The definition of Deficient Fluid Volume is decreased intravascular, interstitial, and/or intracellular fluid. This refers to dehydration, water loss alone without change in sodium. (page 90, NANDA-I Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions & Classification 2007-2008). The etiology for this is active fluid volume loss or some failed regulatory mechanism in the body, i.e. hormone dysfunction. I can't think of any infections that cause water loss.

I can't help you with interventions if I don't know what the symptoms (defining characteristics) are that prove the existence of this problem. The symptoms are the patient's response to the fluid loss. Why? Because the interventions specifically target those symptoms. Just as a doctor treats the cause and symptoms of a medical condition, we treat the cause and defining characteristics of a nursing problem. (1) We cannot treat an infection because it is a medical diagnosis and beyond our scope of practice. (2) Without revealing what the defining characteristics are that have caused the problem (fluid loss) any interventions are a crap shoot/hit or miss possibility and do not customize this care plan for the patient.

snowmaiden2005 · Nov 7, 2008

An infection cannot be the cause (etiology) of a Deficient Fluid Volume. Also infection is a medical diagnosis and cannot be a related factor of a nursing diagnostic statement. The definition of Deficient Fluid Volume is decreased intravascular, interstitial, and/or intracellular fluid. This refers to dehydration, water loss alone without change in sodium. (page 90, NANDA-I Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions & Classification 2007-2008). The etiology for this is active fluid volume loss or some failed regulatory mechanism in the body, i.e. hormone dysfunction. I can't think of any infections that cause water loss.
I can't help you with interventions if I don't know what the symptoms (defining characteristics) are that prove the existence of this problem. The symptoms are the patient's response to the fluid loss. Why? Because the interventions specifically target those symptoms. Just as a doctor treats the cause and symptoms of a medical condition, we treat the cause and defining characteristics of a nursing problem. (1) We cannot treat an infection because it is a medical diagnosis and beyond our scope of practice. (2) Without revealing what the defining characteristics are that have caused the problem (fluid loss) any interventions are a crap shoot/hit or miss possibility and do not customize this care plan for the patient.

Thank you very much for your information. My instructor is actually the one that made the nursing dx, not myself, I'm just trying to work with what she gave me.

my pt was a toddler, UTI, meningitis (was ruled out), neck pain, fever, lethargy, body aches. Treatment included IV antibiotics, increasing fluid levels, and antipyretics PRN.

The assignment is a concept map, which requires 2 nursing dx's. "Risk for Fluid Deficit r/t infection" was the 2nd... "Risk for Hyperthermia r/t infection" was my initial.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2008

"risk for fluid deficit r/t infection"

"risk for hyperthermia r/t infection"

these are

not actual

problems but problems that one expects might occurs if conditions are right. under the risk factors listed, your instructor is correct. you did not list the diagnosis correctly! a infection would cause fluid loss due to diaphoresis; an infection would cause hyperthermia due to fevers.

for the way to design interventions for these types of diagnoses, see this post:

https://allnurses.com/forums/2751313-post8.html

. you design interventions to prevent the fluid deficit and hyperthermia from ever happening in the first place when you use these kinds of "risk for" diagnoses.

watch your wording.

iluvusomuch19 · Jul 16, 2010

infection could be a related factor. :)