Nurse's Pocket Guide

disturbed BODY IMAGE
Verbalization of perceptions that reflect an altered view of one’s
body in appearance
Verbalization of change in lifestyle
Fear of rejection/reaction by others
Focus on past strength/function/appearance
Negative feelings about body (e.g., feelings of helplessness,
hopelessness, or powerlessness); [depersonalization/
grandiosity]
Preoccupation with change/loss
Refusal to verify actual change
Emphasis on remaining strengths; heightened achievement
Personalization of part/loss by name
Depersonalization of part/loss by impersonal pronouns
OBJECTIVE
Behaviors of: acknowledgment of one’s body; avoidance of
one’s body; monitoring one’s body
Nonverbal response to actual/perceived change in body (e.g.,
appearance, structure, function
Missing body part
Actual change in structure/function
Not looking at/not touching body part
Trauma to nonfunctioning part
Change in ability to estimate spatial relationship of body to
environment
Extension of body boundary to incorporate environmental
objects
Intentional/unintentional hiding/overexposing of body
part
Change in social involvement
[Aggression; low frustration tolerance level]
Desired Outcomes/Evaluation
Criteria—Client Will:
• Verbalize understanding of body changes.
• Recognize and incorporate body image change into self-concept
in accurate manner without negating self-esteem.
• Verbalize acceptance of self in situation (e.g., chronic progressive
disease, amputee, decreased independence, weight as
is, effects of therapeutic regimen).
• Verbalize relief of anxiety and adaptation to actual/altered
body image.
• Seek information and actively pursue growth.
Information in brackets added by the authors to clarify and enhance
the use of nursing diagnoses.
116 Cultural Collaborative Community/Home Care