Risk for r/t (Searched, but still confused!)

[Refinej]

I'm a second quarter nursing student and just getting started with care plans. I've selected risk for neonatal jaundice as my diagnosis and I understand that I will not include an AEB statement because I have no symptoms with a risk diagnosis.

However, I am a little confused about what I can include within my r/t statement. Can it include lab values? I am using age and feeding pattern so far, but I'm wondering if I can add in the nomogram risk zone label (high-intermediate) and serum bilirubin level (8.3 at 30 hrs). Baby was full-term, gaining weight (but baby appeared to want feeding more often), breastfed and had passed first meconium.

I thought I read somewhere that s/s DO include lab values and if that is the case then they would be defining characteristics and not part of a risk r/t statement, right?

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

What have you determined from your assessment that gives you the indication that the baby is at risk for jaundice? Because its a newborn?

[Refinej]

It is the diagnosis my instructor and I have agreed upon.

Any insight on the original question? I've already submitted my care plan, but I'm still interested in finding the answer.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

What are the risk factors for jaundice? Is term birth, breastfeeding, amount they are eating or pooping a risk factor?

[Refinej]

Thanks for your reply. In an otherwise healthy couplet, we decided to use this dx as a learning experience based on some of the other databases I had already done, so the typical risk factors for this DB are not what I'm confused about since most of it was ultimately theoretical. Perhaps I gave too much info in the original question and it has confused my request. I'm truly just looking for insight on the r/t statement and including lab values.

Are lab values acceptable to use as a risk factor in a "risk for xyz" nursing diagnosis, or are lab values considered defining characteristics and more appropriate as a symptom of a problem?

[Leonardsmom,LPN]

One of the ways to think of your r/t is what is the related etiology (what is the cause)to the problem. For nursing diagnosis my program uses PES (problem, etiology, signs and symptoms). Lab values would not be the cause of the problem, but think about what may cause a change in the lab values. Look at your text to see what it has to say about what can cause jaundice in a newborn.