Nurse's Pocket Guide

ineffective COPING
Abuse of chemical agents
[Reports of muscular/emotional tension; lack of appetite]
OBJECTIVE
Lack of goal-directed behavior/resolution of problem, including
inability to attend to and difficulty with organizing information
[lack of assertive behavior]
Use of forms of coping that impede adaptive behavior [including
inappropriate use of defense mechanisms, verbal
manipulation]
Inadequate problem solving
Inability to meet role expectations/basic needs [including skipping
meals, little or no exercise, no time for self/no vacations]
Decreased use of social support
Poor concentration
Change in usual communication patterns
High illness rate [including high blood pressure, ulcers, irritable
bowel, frequent headaches/neckaches]
Risk taking
Destructive behavior toward self [including overeating, excessive
smoking/drinking, overuse of prescribed/OTC medications,
illicit drug use]
[Behavioral changes (e.g., impatience, frustration, irritability,
discouragement)]
Desired Outcomes/Evaluation
Criteria—Client Will:
• Assess the current situation accurately.
• Identify ineffective coping behaviors and consequences.
• Verbalize awareness of own coping abilities.
• Verbalize feelings congruent with behavior.
• Meet psychological needs as evidenced by appropriate expression
of feelings, identification of options, and use of resources.
Actions/Interventions
NURSING PRIORITY NO.1.To determine degree of impairment:
• Determine individual stressors (e.g., family, social, work environment,
life changes, or nursing/healthcare management).
• Evaluate ability to understand events, provide realistic
appraisal of situation.
• Identify developmental level of functioning. (People tend to
regress to a lower developmental stage during illness/
crisis.)
Information in brackets added by the authors to clarify and enhance
the use of nursing diagnoses.
228 Cultural Collaborative Community/Home Care