Nurse's Pocket Guide

HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIORS (specify)
NURSING PRIORITY NO. 2.To assist client to develop plan for
improving health:
• Discuss with client his or her particular risk-taking behavior
(e.g., smoking, drinking, self-medicating, lack of healthy food
or exercise) to provide information and encourage client to
make healthy choices for future.
• Explore with client/SO(s) areas of health over which each
individual has control and possible barriers (e.g., lack of time,
access to convenient facilites or safe environment in which to
exercise, etc.). Problem solve options for change. Helps identify
actions to be taken to achieve desired improvement.
• Provide information about conditions/health risk factors or
concerns in written and audiovisual forms, Internet websites,
as appropriate. Use of multiple modalities enhances acquisition/retention
of information.
• Discuss assertive behaviors and provide opportunity for client
to practice new behaviors.
• Use therapeutic communication skills to provide support for
desired changes.
NURSING PRIORITY NO. 3. To promote wellness (Teaching/
Discharge Considerations):
• Acknowledge client’s strengths in present health management
and build on in planning for future.
• Encourage use of relaxation skills, medication, visualization,
and guided imagery to assist in management of stress.
• Instruct in individually appropriate wellness behaviors (e.g.,
breast/testicle self-examination, immunizations, smoking cessation,
regular medical and dental examinations, healthy diet,
exercise program, early intervention and treatment of risk
factors [e.g., hypertension, obesity]).
• Identify and refer child/family member to health resources for
immunizations, basic health services, and to learn health promotion/monitoring
skills (e.g., monitoring hydration, measuring
fever). May facilitate long-term attention to health issues.
• Refer to community resources (e.g., dietitian/weight control
program, smoking cessation groups, Alcoholics Anonymous,
codependency support groups, assertiveness training/parent
effectiveness classes, driving safety, violence prevention, clinical
nurse specialists/psychiatrists) to address specific concerns.
Documentation Focus
ASSESSMENT/REASSESSMENT
• Assessment findings, including individual concerns/risk factors.
Information in brackets added by the authors to clarify and enhance
the use of nursing diagnoses.
372 Cultural Collaborative Community/Home Care