Risk for Infection; more than one risk factor?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hello all;

Long time reader/lurker, first time posting.

So many here are so knowledgeable and have provided so much help, especially the late Daytonite. So firstly, thank you.

My question is, can a nursing diagnosis have more than one risk factor?

My patient is a motorcycle crash trauma, 11 days post op from a craniotomy for epidural hematoma. Also sustained a compound comminuted fracture with degloving of the right tibia and fibula. She also is on a foley catheter.

I want to use the nursing diagnosis of Risk for Infection. But I'm a bit confused. Would it be incorrect to state "Risk for infection of surgical incision wound, open fracture of RLE, and indwelling catheter r/t disruption of normal tissue integrity and indwelling urinary catheter"

It just feels like too many words jammed in there.

Thank you!

Brian

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You can do "Risk for infection related to surgical incision wound, open fracture of RLE and indwelling catheter. Or, related to disruption of normal tissue integrity and indwelling urinary catheter". Risk for infection is an established nursing diagnosis, so I don't think you're supposed to tack on anything else except in regards to "related to". Make sense? Anyone else feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've been taught to do and have done throughout my schooling.

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Yeah I agree with katia, your Dx is "Risk for Infection" the end. All the other stuff you want to add on goes in the related to. You would obviously want to clean it up though. And yes you can have multiple related to's but you will need to address them in your care plan, so some times its easier to leave them out if your instructors allow. I know if your first semester they probably don't expect you to list more than 1 r/t once you get to third they expect it in my exsperience.

You probably have other things you could add as well judging from the info you gave. Whats the hgb/hct/wbc?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
You can do "Risk for infection related to surgical incision wound, open fracture of RLE and indwelling catheter. Or, related to disruption of normal tissue integrity and indwelling urinary catheter". Risk for infection is an established nursing diagnosis, so I don't think you're supposed to tack on anything else except in regards to "related to". Make sense? Anyone else feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've been taught to do and have done throughout my schooling.

Katia I like those diagnosis wording. They are clear and concise

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Thank you for your help everyone!

Here's what I ended up putting together. Nursing care plans still seem to take me soooooooo long to complete.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31610809/Risk%20for%20infection.jpg

Esme12 -- I have a weim too!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I wish more student asked for help as you did and showed your work......well done.:yeah:

I love my weimy...:loveya:......aren't they the best???

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kudos to this student who comes to ask for help with some work already in progress. she asks for help, not for the answers. good work, and my compliments to your faculty.:yelclap:

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I love the use of "complex factors"

Risk for infection r/t complex factors AEB ... .then list related factors

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