Nurs 2004 | Maternity and Women’s Health Nursing
The nurse can assist this process by providing emotional support to the patient and their family. The nurse should be empathetic and understanding, allowing them to express their feelings without judgement or criticism. It is important to provide the patient and family with accurate information regarding hospitalizations, medical treatments, prognostic outlooks, disease processes, any necessary lifestyle changes, and potential outcomes in order to help them make informed decisions. The nurse can also facilitate communication between the healthcare team and the patient/family so that they are involved in all major decisions made about care. Furthermore, helping the family create a plan of care for after discharge from hospitalization can ensure continuity of care throughout treatment.
Some potential nursing diagnoses related to this situation include: acute pain; risk for injury; impaired physical mobility; activity intolerance; fatigue syndrome; impaired verbal communication; deficient knowledge (disease process); anxiety related to life-threatening illness; spiritual distress related to crisis situation or change in health status; disturbed sleep pattern due to stressors associated with illness/hospitalization.