Nursing care plans are fundamental in healthcare, acting as a roadmap for nurses to deliver effective and personalized patient care. Creating the most effective nursing care plan involves a systematic approach to accurately identify patient needs, especially when faced with a new diagnosis. This guide will walk you through the essential steps of developing a robust care plan, particularly emphasizing its relevance and application in the context of new diagnoses. We aim to provide an ultimate resource for both nursing students and experienced professionals, offering a detailed understanding of care plan components, objectives, and purposes, along with practical guidance and examples to enhance your practice.
Understanding Nursing Care Plans
A nursing care plan (NCP) is a structured, formal process designed to pinpoint existing health needs and anticipate potential risks a patient might face. These plans are vital for fostering clear communication among nurses, patients, and the broader healthcare team, ensuring everyone works collaboratively towards achieving specific health outcomes. Without a well-defined nursing care planning process, the consistency and quality of patient care would inevitably suffer.
The nursing care planning journey begins the moment a patient is admitted and continues to evolve. It’s a dynamic document, constantly updated to reflect changes in the patient’s condition and the ongoing evaluation of their progress towards set goals. This commitment to personalized, patient-centered care is the cornerstone of excellent nursing practice, especially crucial when managing the complexities that arise with a new diagnosis.
Types of Nursing Care Plans and Their Relevance to New Diagnoses
Nursing care plans can be broadly categorized as informal or formal. An informal nursing care plan is essentially a mental strategy, a nurse’s internal plan of action. In contrast, a formal nursing care plan is a documented guide, whether written or digital, that meticulously organizes all aspects of a patient’s care.
Formal care plans are further divided into standardized and individualized plans. Standardized care plans are designed to address the common needs of patient groups with similar conditions. Individualized care plans, however, are specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of a patient, particularly vital when dealing with the complexities of a new diagnosis that may not be adequately covered by a standardized approach.
Standardized Care Plans: A Foundation
Standardized care plans are pre-established guidelines developed by nursing staff and healthcare institutions to ensure consistent care for patients with specific, common conditions. These plans are invaluable for setting a baseline of acceptable care and optimizing nurses’ time by eliminating the need to repeatedly create plans for routine situations.
However, it’s crucial to recognize that standardized care plans are not designed for the intricacies of individual patient needs, especially those arising from a new diagnosis. They serve as an excellent starting point, a framework upon which to build a more personalized approach.
The care plans presented in this guide are structured as standard care plans, intended to serve as a foundational framework for developing individualized care plans tailored to each patient’s unique situation.
Individualized Care Plans: Tailoring Care for New Diagnoses
An individualized care plan is essential, particularly when a patient receives a new diagnosis. It involves adapting a standardized plan to precisely match the patient’s specific needs, preferences, and goals. This approach ensures that the care is not only effective but also deeply personal and holistic, taking into account the patient’s unique circumstances, strengths, and objectives in the face of new health challenges.
Furthermore, individualized care plans are strongly linked to improved patient satisfaction. When patients feel that their care plan is designed with their specific condition and new diagnosis in mind, they are more likely to feel understood and valued. This heightened sense of engagement and personalization is especially critical in today’s healthcare environment, where patient satisfaction is increasingly recognized as a key indicator of quality care. For patients grappling with a new diagnosis, this personalized approach can significantly enhance their experience and promote better health outcomes.
Tips on individualizing a nursing care plan, especially for a new diagnosis:
- In-depth Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond the standard protocol. Focus on understanding the patient’s emotional and psychological response to their new diagnosis, their existing support systems, and any pre-existing conditions that might complicate their care.
- Patient Involvement: Actively involve the patient and their family in the care planning process. Discuss the new diagnosis openly, address their concerns, and incorporate their preferences and values into the plan. This collaborative approach is crucial for ensuring the plan is relevant and acceptable to the patient.
- Specific Goals: Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals that are directly related to the patient’s new diagnosis and their individual circumstances. Goals should not only focus on physical health but also on emotional well-being and adjustment to the new health status.
- Flexible Interventions: Design nursing interventions that are adaptable and responsive to the patient’s evolving needs as they come to terms with their new diagnosis. Be prepared to modify the plan based on ongoing assessments and patient feedback.
- Resource Integration: Identify and integrate resources that can support the patient in managing their new diagnosis. This may include specialist referrals, support groups, educational materials, and community services.
- Regular Review: Establish a schedule for regularly reviewing and revising the care plan. A new diagnosis often brings about changes in a patient’s condition and understanding over time, so the care plan must remain current and responsive to these changes.
By following these tips, nurses can create truly individualized care plans that not only address the medical aspects of a new diagnosis but also support the patient’s overall well-being and adaptation to their changed health status.
Objectives of Nursing Care Plans
The primary objectives of developing a nursing care plan are multifaceted, all aimed at enhancing patient care, particularly in situations involving new diagnoses:
- Promote Evidence-Based Care: To ensure nursing care is grounded in the latest research and best practices, creating a reliable and effective healthcare environment. This is particularly important when addressing new diagnoses where treatment protocols may be rapidly evolving.
- Support Holistic Care: To address the patient as a whole person—encompassing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions—in managing and preventing disease. This holistic approach is especially crucial when a patient is adapting to a new diagnosis, which can impact all aspects of their life.
- Establish Care Pathways and Bundles: To create structured, team-based approaches to care, ensuring consistent standards and expected outcomes. Care pathways and bundles are essential for complex conditions often associated with new diagnoses, streamlining care and improving coordination.
- Clearly Define Goals and Outcomes: To precisely identify what the healthcare team aims to achieve and what results are expected from the interventions. Clear goals are vital for tracking progress, especially when managing the uncertainties that can accompany a new diagnosis.
- Enhance Communication and Documentation: To improve how care plans are communicated among healthcare providers and documented for continuity and legal purposes. Effective communication is paramount in ensuring everyone involved in the patient’s care, especially after a new diagnosis, is informed and aligned.
- Measure Nursing Care Effectiveness: To provide a framework for evaluating the quality and impact of nursing care, allowing for continuous improvement and adjustments as needed. Measuring care effectiveness is crucial for refining approaches and ensuring optimal outcomes for patients, particularly those with new diagnoses.
Purposes and Importance of Nursing Care Plans
Nursing care plans serve several critical purposes, making them indispensable tools in patient care, especially when navigating a new diagnosis:
- Defines the Nurse’s Role: Care plans delineate the unique and independent contributions of nurses in patient care, emphasizing their role in addressing patients’ overall health and well-being beyond merely executing physician’s orders. This is particularly important when a new diagnosis necessitates a comprehensive nursing approach to patient education, emotional support, and symptom management.
- Provides Direction for Individualized Care: A care plan acts as a detailed roadmap, guiding nurses in delivering care specifically tailored to each patient’s unique needs. This individualized approach is paramount when dealing with a new diagnosis, ensuring that interventions are precisely targeted and effective for the patient’s specific condition and circumstances.
- Ensures Continuity of Care: By providing a documented plan, care plans guarantee that all nurses, across different shifts and departments, deliver consistent, high-quality interventions. This is crucial for patients with new diagnoses who require consistent monitoring and care adjustments as they adapt to their condition and treatment.
- Coordinates Care Among Healthcare Team Members: Care plans ensure that every member of the healthcare team is informed about the patient’s needs and the necessary actions to meet them, preventing gaps in care. Effective coordination is vital for patients with new diagnoses, often requiring input from multiple specialists and allied health professionals.
- Serves as Legal Documentation: Care plans accurately document observations, nursing actions, and patient/family instructions. Proper documentation is essential; if care isn’t documented, it’s legally considered as not having been provided. This aspect is critical for accountability and legal protection in all areas of patient care, including the management of new diagnoses.
- Guides Staff Assignments: Care plans help in matching staff skills to patient needs, ensuring that patients with complex conditions or new diagnoses are cared for by nurses with the appropriate expertise.
- Monitors Patient Progress: Care plans facilitate the tracking of patient progress and enable timely adjustments to the care strategy in response to changes in health status or goals. Regular monitoring is especially important for patients with new diagnoses, as their conditions and responses to treatment may evolve rapidly.
- Supports Reimbursement: Insurance companies utilize medical records, including care plans, to determine coverage and payment for hospital services. Comprehensive care plans that clearly document the necessity and quality of care are essential for securing appropriate reimbursement.
- Defines Patient Goals and Promotes Engagement: Care plans involve patients in their treatment process, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. This is particularly beneficial for patients facing new diagnoses, empowering them to actively participate in managing their health and adapting to their new health status.
Key Components of a Nursing Care Plan
A comprehensive nursing care plan (NCP) typically includes several essential components, each playing a vital role in guiding patient care, especially in the context of a new diagnosis:
- Nursing Diagnoses: Clearly identified health problems or risks that nurses are qualified and licensed to treat. These diagnoses are formulated based on patient assessments and are particularly crucial in addressing the specific challenges presented by a new diagnosis.
- Client Problems: A broader description of the patient’s health issues, which may include medical diagnoses as well as other factors impacting their well-being. Understanding the full scope of client problems is essential for holistic care planning, especially when a new diagnosis can trigger a range of related issues.
- Expected Outcomes: Specific, measurable goals that define the desired changes in patient health status as a result of nursing care. Outcomes must be realistic and patient-centered, guiding the selection of appropriate interventions, particularly when aiming to manage or adapt to a new diagnosis.
- Nursing Interventions: Actions that nurses will perform to achieve the expected outcomes. Interventions should be evidence-based, individualized, and focused on addressing the root causes of the nursing diagnoses and client problems, especially those related to a new diagnosis.
- Rationales: Scientific principles or evidence that justify the selection of each nursing intervention. Rationales ensure that care is not only effective but also based on sound reasoning, crucial for optimizing treatment strategies for new diagnoses.
Care Plan Formats: Structuring Information Effectively
Nursing care plans are commonly organized into formats that facilitate clear and efficient communication of patient information. The structure often involves columns that categorize key aspects of the care plan. Common formats include three-column and four-column plans, each designed to organize information systematically:
Three-Column Format
This format simplifies the care plan into three key sections:
- Nursing Diagnosis: Clearly states the identified health problem.
- Outcomes and Evaluation: Combines desired patient outcomes with criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of care.
- Interventions: Lists the specific nursing actions planned to achieve the outcomes.
Three-column nursing care plan format
Four-Column Format
The four-column format provides a more detailed breakdown, enhancing clarity and comprehensiveness:
- Nursing Diagnosis: Specifies the nursing diagnosis, similar to the three-column format.
- Goals and Outcomes: Separates goals from evaluation, allowing for a more detailed description of what is expected and when.
- Interventions: Lists the nursing actions to be implemented.
- Evaluation: Dedicated column to document the evaluation of goal achievement and care plan effectiveness.
Four-column nursing care plan template
For practical examples and templates of various nursing care plan formats, you can download and utilize the following resource:
Download: Printable Nursing Care Plan Templates and Formats
Student Care Plans: A Detailed Learning Tool
Student care plans are typically more extensive and detailed than those used by practicing nurses. They serve as a critical learning tool, designed to help nursing students deeply understand the care planning process.
Student nursing care plans are more detailed.
Often, student care plans are handwritten and include an additional column for “Rationale” or “Scientific Explanation” following the interventions. These rationales are essential as they require students to articulate the scientific basis for each nursing intervention, reinforcing their understanding of the underlying principles of care.
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Nursing Care Plan
Creating an effective nursing care plan involves a systematic approach through several key steps. Here’s how to develop a comprehensive care plan for your patient, particularly when addressing a new diagnosis:
Step 1: Data Collection and Comprehensive Assessment
The initial step in crafting a nursing care plan is to build a thorough client database. This involves employing various assessment techniques and data collection methods, including physical assessments, detailed health history reviews, patient interviews, medical record analysis, and relevant diagnostic studies. A complete client database encompasses all pertinent health information gathered. This step is crucial for identifying related or risk factors and defining characteristics that will inform the nursing diagnoses, especially vital when dealing with a new diagnosis where understanding the full clinical picture is paramount. Some institutions or nursing programs may provide specific assessment formats to guide this process.
Critical thinking is paramount during patient assessment. It involves integrating knowledge from various scientific disciplines and professional guidelines to inform evaluations effectively. This process is crucial for complex clinical decision-making, aiming to identify patients’ healthcare needs accurately and efficiently. A supportive environment and access to reliable information are essential components of this stage.
Step 2: Data Analysis and Organization for New Diagnoses
Once you have gathered comprehensive data about the patient’s health, the next step is to analyze, cluster, and organize this information. This is particularly critical when dealing with a new diagnosis. Focus on identifying patterns and significant findings that are directly related to the new diagnosis. Organize the data into logical groups to help formulate accurate nursing diagnoses, prioritize patient needs, and determine desired outcomes that are specifically relevant to their newly diagnosed condition.
Step 3: Formulating Nursing Diagnoses Specific to the New Diagnosis
Nursing diagnoses are standardized statements that identify specific health needs and responses to actual or potential health problems that nurses can independently address. These diagnoses should be directly related to the patient’s new diagnosis and should focus on problems that nursing interventions can resolve or prevent. Accurately formulating nursing diagnoses is a critical step in creating a targeted and effective care plan.
For detailed guidance on formulating nursing diagnoses, refer to this comprehensive resource: Nursing Diagnosis (NDx): Complete Guide and List.
Step 4: Setting Priorities Based on Patient Needs and New Diagnoses
Setting priorities involves ranking nursing diagnoses and interventions in a preferential order. This step is crucial for determining which problems require immediate attention. In collaboration with the patient, prioritize identified issues based on their urgency and impact on the patient’s health and well-being, especially in the context of a new diagnosis. Diagnoses are often categorized as high, medium, or low priority. Life-threatening problems, or those directly related to managing the immediate impact of a new diagnosis, should always be given the highest priority.
Consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to help prioritize care. This framework organizes human needs into a pyramid, starting from basic physiological needs at the base to self-actualization at the top. In the context of a new diagnosis, initial priorities often focus on physiological and safety needs, as these are fundamental to stabilizing the patient’s condition and ensuring their immediate well-being.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Nursing Care Planning
- Basic Physiological Needs: These are the most fundamental needs, including nutrition (food and water), elimination, airway, breathing, circulation (ABCs), sleep, and basic comfort. In a new diagnosis scenario, addressing physiological stability is paramount.
- Safety and Security Needs: Once physiological needs are met, safety becomes the priority. This includes preventing injury, ensuring a safe environment (e.g., side rails, call lights), maintaining hygiene, managing infection risks, and providing emotional security by fostering trust and safety. Patient education about their new diagnosis and how to manage it also falls under safety needs.
- Love and Belonging Needs: These involve emotional connections, supportive relationships, and avoiding social isolation. For patients with a new diagnosis, feelings of isolation or fear are common. Nursing interventions should aim to foster supportive relationships and ensure the patient feels connected and understood.
- Self-Esteem Needs: Addressing self-esteem involves promoting patient acceptance, achievement, and a sense of control. A new diagnosis can significantly impact a patient’s self-esteem. Care plans should include strategies to empower patients, build their confidence in managing their condition, and support their sense of self-worth.
- Self-Actualization Needs: At the highest level, self-actualization involves helping patients reach their full potential, fostering spiritual growth, and enabling them to adapt and thrive despite their health challenges. For patients with new diagnoses, this might involve setting long-term goals that incorporate their new health status and helping them find meaning and purpose.
*Virginia Henderson’s 14 Needs as applied to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Learn more about it here. *
When setting priorities, consider the patient’s health values, beliefs, available resources, and the urgency of the situation. Involving the patient in this prioritization process is essential to enhance their cooperation and ensure the care plan aligns with their personal needs and preferences, particularly when adjusting to a new diagnosis.
Step 5: Establishing Patient-Centered Goals and Desired Outcomes
Following the prioritization of nursing diagnoses, the next critical step is to define goals and desired outcomes in collaboration with the patient. Goals or desired outcomes are specific statements that describe what the nurse and patient aim to achieve through the implemented nursing interventions. These goals should be directly derived from the nursing diagnoses and should provide clear direction for planning interventions and evaluating patient progress, especially in the context of managing a new diagnosis. Goals serve as benchmarks to measure effectiveness, track problem resolution, and motivate both the patient and the healthcare team by providing a sense of accomplishment.
Examples of goals and desired outcomes. Notice how they’re formatted and written.
For each nursing diagnosis, establish at least one overarching goal. The terms “goal outcomes” and “expected outcomes” are often used interchangeably, both referring to the anticipated results of nursing care.
Goals should adhere to the SMART criteria:
- Specific: Goals must be clear, significant, and precisely defined to be effective.
- Measurable or Meaningful: Ensure goals are quantifiable so progress can be tracked and success can be objectively determined.
- Attainable or Action-Oriented: Goals should be challenging yet achievable, considering the patient’s abilities and resources.
- Realistic or Results-Oriented: Goals must be practical and focused on achieving meaningful and successful outcomes, given the available resources and patient circumstances.
- Timely or Time-Oriented: Each goal needs a defined timeframe, a deadline to focus efforts and ensure timely progress.
Additionally, consider the REEPIG standards to ensure high-quality care plans:
- Realistic: Goals must be achievable with the available resources and within the healthcare setting.
- Explicitly Stated: Goals should be clearly and unambiguously written to prevent misinterpretation.
- Evidence-Based: Interventions and goals should be supported by current research and best practices.
- Prioritized: The care plan should address the most urgent needs first, aligning with the established priorities.
- Involve: The care planning process should actively involve the patient and all relevant members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
- Goal-Centered: All planned care should directly contribute to achieving the set goals and desired outcomes.
Short-Term and Long-Term Goals in Managing New Diagnoses
Goals can be categorized as short-term or long-term, depending on the expected timeframe for achievement. This distinction is particularly relevant when planning care for patients with new diagnoses, as immediate needs might differ significantly from long-term adaptation and management.
- Short-term goals are typically achievable within a few hours to days. In acute care settings, especially when a patient is newly diagnosed, short-term goals often focus on immediate stabilization, symptom management, and initial patient education about their condition.
- Long-term goals are designed to be achieved over weeks or months and are particularly important for patients with chronic conditions or those requiring ongoing management at home or in long-term care facilities. For a new diagnosis, long-term goals might include adapting to lifestyle changes, managing the condition effectively at home, and achieving the best possible quality of life.
- Discharge planning is inherently linked to long-term goals. It involves setting objectives that promote continued recovery and problem resolution beyond the hospital setting, often utilizing home health services, physical therapy, or other community resources. Effective discharge planning is crucial for patients with new diagnoses to ensure a smooth transition and continued support.
Components of Well-Defined Goals and Desired Outcomes
Goals and desired outcome statements typically include four key components:
- Subject: Usually the patient, or a specific aspect of the patient (e.g., “patient,” “patient’s respiratory rate,” “patient’s pain level”). Often, the subject is implied to be the patient unless otherwise specified.
- Verb: An action verb that describes what the patient is expected to do, learn, or experience (e.g., “will demonstrate,” “will verbalize,” “will achieve”).
- Conditions or Modifiers: These clarify the circumstances under which the behavior is to be performed, answering questions like “what,” “when,” “where,” or “how.”
- Criterion of Desired Performance: Defines the standard for evaluating performance or the level at which the patient will perform the specified behavior. This component provides measurable parameters for success.
Components of goals and desired outcomes in a nursing care plan.
Tips for Writing Effective Goals and Desired Outcomes:
- Frame goals and outcomes in terms of patient responses, not nurse activities. Start each goal with “Patient will…” to maintain focus on patient behavior and outcomes.
- Avoid goals that describe what the nurse hopes to achieve; instead, focus on what the patient will accomplish.
- Use observable and measurable terms. Avoid vague language that is open to interpretation.
- Ensure outcomes are realistic, considering the patient’s resources, capabilities, limitations, and the expected duration of care.
- Verify that goals are compatible with other therapies and healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care.
- Each goal should derive from only one nursing diagnosis to ensure clear alignment between diagnoses, interventions, and evaluations.
- Confirm that the patient values and considers the goals important to foster cooperation and commitment to the care plan, particularly when adapting to a new diagnosis.
Step 6: Selecting Targeted Nursing Interventions
Nursing interventions are the specific actions that nurses will perform to help patients achieve their goals. When selecting interventions, especially for a new diagnosis, focus on those that directly address the etiology of the nursing diagnosis or client problem. For risk diagnoses, interventions should aim to reduce or eliminate risk factors. Nursing interventions are identified and documented during the planning phase of the nursing process but are implemented during the implementation phase.
Types of Nursing Interventions and Their Application for New Diagnoses
Nursing interventions can be categorized as independent, dependent, or collaborative:
Types of nursing interventions in a care plan.
- Independent Nursing Interventions: These are actions that nurses are licensed to initiate based on their professional judgment and skills. They include continuous patient assessment, providing emotional support, offering comfort measures, patient education (crucial for new diagnoses), physical care, and making referrals to other healthcare professionals. For a patient with a new diagnosis, independent interventions might include educating the patient about their condition, teaching self-management techniques, and providing emotional support to cope with the diagnosis.
- Dependent Nursing Interventions: These are actions carried out under the orders or supervision of a physician. They typically include administering medications, managing intravenous therapy, performing diagnostic tests, and implementing specific treatments, dietary orders, and activity or rest protocols. For a new diagnosis, dependent interventions are often critical for initiating medical treatment and managing acute symptoms as per physician directives.
- Collaborative Interventions: These are actions that require consultation and coordination with other healthcare team members, such as physicians, social workers, dietitians, and therapists. Collaborative interventions are essential for addressing the multifaceted needs of patients, especially those with new diagnoses that may require a multidisciplinary approach involving medical specialists, rehabilitation services, and psychosocial support.
Effective Nursing Interventions Should Be:
- Safe and appropriate for the patient’s age, health condition, and overall status, particularly considering the specifics of a new diagnosis.
- Achievable with the available resources, staffing, and time constraints.
- Aligned with the patient’s personal values, cultural background, and beliefs.
- Consistent and coordinated with other therapies the patient is receiving.
- Based on established nursing knowledge, clinical experience, and evidence from relevant scientific disciplines.
Guidelines for Writing Nursing Interventions:
- Date and sign the care plan to ensure accountability and provide a time reference for review and evaluation.
- Nursing interventions should be specific, clear, and begin with an action verb that indicates what the nurse is expected to do. Include qualifiers such as how, when, where, frequency, and amount to detail the planned activity. For example: “Educate patient on medication regimen before discharge” or “Assess pain level using a pain scale every 4 hours.”
- Use only standard abbreviations approved by the healthcare institution to ensure clarity and avoid miscommunication.
Step 7: Providing Rationales for Interventions
Rationales, or scientific explanations, are essential for justifying why a particular nursing intervention was chosen. They explain the scientific principles or evidence that support the intervention’s effectiveness in achieving the desired outcome.
Sample nursing interventions and rationale for a care plan (NCP)
While rationales may not be included in routine care plans used by experienced nurses in practice, they are particularly valuable in student care plans. They help nursing students link pathophysiological and psychological principles to the nursing interventions they select, reinforcing their understanding of the scientific basis of nursing care. Including rationales strengthens the educational value of care planning and ensures that interventions are not just tasks but are thoughtfully chosen based on evidence and understanding.
Step 8: Evaluation of the Nursing Care Plan
Evaluation is a critical, ongoing, and systematic process to assess the patient’s progress toward achieving the set goals and desired outcomes. It also measures the effectiveness of the nursing care plan itself. Evaluation is an integral component of the nursing process because its findings determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the nursing interventions. This step is especially important when managing new diagnoses, as the patient’s response to treatment and adaptation to their condition need to be continuously monitored and evaluated.
Step 9: Documenting the Care Plan
The final step in the nursing care planning process is to document the care plan in accordance with hospital policy. The documented care plan becomes part of the patient’s permanent medical record, accessible to all members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care. Documentation practices may vary across different nursing programs and healthcare facilities, but most formats are designed to systematically reflect the steps of the nursing process. Many institutions utilize a five-column format to comprehensively capture all essential elements of the care plan.
Nursing Care Plan Resources and Examples
This section provides a range of sample nursing care plans (NCPs) and nursing diagnoses categorized by medical specialties and conditions. These resources are designed to assist nurses in developing effective care plans across various clinical scenarios, including those involving new diagnoses.
(Please note: The following is a list of categories and specific care plans, mirroring the original article’s extensive list. Due to length constraints, the full detailed list is represented by category names as in the original article. For actual detailed care plans, please refer to the original article or resources mentioned.)
Basic Nursing and General Care Plans
This category includes general care plans applicable across various settings and patient needs:
| Basic Nursing & General Care Plans |
|---|
| Acute Confusion (Delirium) and Altered Mental Status |
| Acute Pain and Pain Management |
| Activity Intolerance and Generalized Weakness |
| Cancer (Oncology Nursing) |
| Caregiver Role Strain and Family Caregiver Support Systems |
| Chronic Confusion (Dementia) |
| End-of-Life Care (Hospice Care or Palliative) |
| Fall Risk and Fall Prevention |
| Fatigue and Lethargy |
| Geriatric Nursing (Older Adult) |
| Grieving and Loss |
| Hypothermia and Cold Injuries |
| Hyperthermia (Fever) |
| Impaired Swallowing (Dysphagia) |
| Insomnia and Sleep Deprivation |
| Prolonged Bed Rest |
| Risk for Injury and Patient Safety |
| Self-Care and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) |
| Surgery (Perioperative Client) |
| Systemic Lupus Erythematosus |
| Total Parenteral Nutrition |
Surgery and Perioperative Care Plans
Care plans for patients undergoing surgical interventions:
| Surgery and Perioperative Care Plans |
|---|
| Amputation |
| Appendectomy |
| Cholecystectomy |
| Fracture UPDATED! |
| Hemorrhoids |
| Hysterectomy |
| Ileostomy & Colostomy |
| Laminectomy (Disc Surgery) |
| Mastectomy |
| Subtotal Gastrectomy |
| Surgery (Perioperative Client) |
| Thyroidectomy |
| Total Joint (Knee, Hip) Replacement |
Cardiac Care Plans
Nursing care plans for cardiovascular conditions:
| Cardiac Care Plans |
|---|
| Angina Pectoris (Coronary Artery Disease) |
| Cardiac Arrhythmia (Digitalis Toxicity) |
| Cardiac Catheterization |
| Cardiogenic Shock |
| Congenital Heart Disease |
| Decreased Cardiac Output & Cardiac Support |
| Heart Failure UPDATED! |
| Hypertension UPDATED! |
| Hypovolemic Shock |
| Impaired Tissue Perfusion & Ischemia |
| Myocardial Infarction |
| Pacemaker Therapy |
Endocrine and Metabolic Care Plans
Care plans for endocrine and metabolic disorders:
| Endocrine and Metabolic Care Plans |
|---|
| Addison’s Disease |
| Cushing’s Disease |
| Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1, Type 2) UPDATED! |
| Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) |
| Eating Disorders: Anorexia & Bulimia Nervosa |
| Fluid Volume Deficit (Dehydration & Hypovolemia) |
| Fluid Volume Excess (Hypervolemia) |
| Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| Hyperthyroidism |
| Hypothyroidism |
| Imbalanced Nutrition (Malnutrition) |
| Obesity & Overweight |
| Thyroidectomy |
| Unstable Blood Glucose Levels (Hyperglycemia & Hypoglycemia) |
| Acid-Base Imbalances |
|---|
| Metabolic Acidosis |
| Metabolic Alkalosis |
| Respiratory Acidosis |
| Respiratory Alkalosis |
| Electrolyte Imbalances |
|---|
| Calcium (Ca) Imbalances: Hypercalcemia and Hypocalcemia |
| Magnesium (Mg) Imbalances: Hypermagnesemia and Hypomagnesemia |
| Potassium (K) Imbalances: Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia |
| Sodium (Na) Imbalances: Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia |
Gastrointestinal Care Plans
Care plans for disorders of the digestive system:
| Gastrointestinal Care Plans |
|---|
| Appendectomy |
| Bowel Incontinence (Fecal Incontinence) |
| Cholecystectomy |
| Constipation |
| Diarrhea Nursing Care Plan and Management |
| Cholecystitis and Cholelithiasis |
| Gastroenteritis |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) |
| Hemorrhoids |
| Hepatitis |
| Ileostomy & Colostomy |
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) |
| Intussusception |
| Liver Cirrhosis |
| Nausea & Vomiting |
| Pancreatitis |
| Peritonitis |
| Peptic Ulcer Disease |
| Subtotal Gastrectomy |
| Umbilical and Inguinal Hernia |
Hematologic and Lymphatic Care Plans
Care plans for blood and lymphatic system disorders:
| Hematologic & Lymphatic Care Plans |
|---|
| Anaphylactic Shock |
| Anemia UPDATED! |
| Aortic Aneurysm |
| Bleeding Risk & Hemophilia |
| Deep Vein Thrombosis |
| Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation |
| Hemophilia |
| Kawasaki Disease |
| Leukemia |
| Lymphoma |
| Sepsis and Septicemia |
| Sickle Cell Anemia Crisis |
Infectious Diseases Care Plans
Care plans for communicable and infectious conditions:
| Infectious Diseases Care Plans |
|---|
| Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (HIV Positive) |
| Acute Rheumatic Fever |
| Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever |
| Herpes Zoster (Shingles) |
| Influenza (Flu) |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis |
| Risk for Infection & Infection Control |
Integumentary Care Plans
Care plans for skin and tissue related disorders:
| Integumentary Care Plans |
|---|
| Burn Injury |
| Dermatitis |
| Herpes Zoster (Shingles) |
| Pressure Ulcer (Bedsores) |
| Wound Care and Skin/Tissue Integrity |
Maternal and Newborn Care Plans
Care plans for pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care:
| Maternal and Newborn Care Plans |
|---|
| Abortion (Termination of Pregnancy) |
| Cervical Insufficiency (Premature Dilation of the Cervix) |
| Cesarean Birth |
| Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip |
| Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| Hyperbilirubinemia (Jaundice) |
| Labor Stages, Induced, Augmented, Dysfunctional, Precipitous Labor |
| Neonatal Sepsis |
| Perinatal Loss (Miscarriage, Stillbirth) |
| Placental Abruption |
| Placenta Previa |
| Postpartum Hemorrhage |
| Postpartum Thrombophlebitis |
| Prenatal Hemorrhage |
| Preeclampsia and Gestational Hypertension |
| Prenatal Infection |
| Preterm Labor |
| Puerperal & Postpartum Infections |
| Substance (Alcohol and Drug) Abuse in Pregnancy |
Mental Health and Psychiatric Care Plans
Care plans for mental health and psychiatric conditions:
| Mental Health and Psychiatric Care Plans |
|---|
| Alcohol Withdrawal |
| Anxiety & Fear |
| Anxiety and Panic Disorders |
| Bipolar Disorders |
| Body Image Disturbance & Self-Esteem |
| Impaired Thought Processes & Cognitive Impairment |
| Major Depression |
| Personality Disorders |
| Schizophrenia |
| Sexual Assault |
| Substance Dependence and Abuse |
| Suicide Behaviors |
Musculoskeletal Care Plans
Care plans for disorders of the musculoskeletal system:
| Musculoskeletal Care Plans |
|---|
| Amputation |
| Congenital Hip Dysplasia |
| Fracture UPDATED! |
| Impaired Physical Mobility & Immobility |
| Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Laminectomy (Disc Surgery) |
| Osteoarthritis |
| Osteogenic Sarcoma (Osteosarcoma) |
| Osteoporosis |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Scoliosis |
| Spinal Cord Injury |
| Total Joint (Knee, Hip) Replacement |
Neurological Care Plans
Care plans for disorders of the nervous system:
| Neurological Care Plans |
|---|
| Alzheimer’s Disease UPDATED! |
| Brain Tumor |
| Cerebral Palsy |
| Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke) UPDATED! |
| Guillain-Barre Syndrome |
| Meningitis |
| Multiple Sclerosis |
| Parkinson’s Disease |
| Seizure Disorder |
| Spinal Cord Injury |
Ophthalmic Care Plans
Care plans for eye-related disorders:
| Ophthalmic Care Plans |
|---|
| Cataracts |
| Glaucoma |
| Macular Degeneration |
Pediatric Nursing Care Plans
Care plans specific to pediatric patient populations:
| Pediatric Nursing Care Plans |
|---|
| Child Abuse |
| Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate |
| Dying Child |
| Febrile Seizure |
| Hospitalized Child |
| Hydrocephalus |
| Otitis Media |
| Spina Bifida |
| Tonsillitis and Adenoiditis |
Reproductive Care Plans
Care plans for reproductive and sexual health disorders:
| Reproductive Care Plans |
|---|
| Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testes) |
| Hysterectomy |
| Hypospadias and Epispadias |
| Mastectomy |
| Menopause |
| Prostatectomy |
Respiratory Care Plans
Care plans for disorders of the respiratory system:
| Respiratory Care Plans |
|---|
| Airway Clearance Therapy & Coughing |
| Apnea |
| Asthma UPDATED! |
| Aspiration Risk & Aspiration Pneumonia |
| Bronchiolitis UPDATED! |
| Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) UPDATED! |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) UPDATED! |
| Croup Syndrome |
| Cystic Fibrosis UPDATED! |
| Epiglottitis |
| Hemothorax and Pneumothorax UPDATED! |
| Ineffective Breathing Pattern (Dyspnea) |
| Impairment of Gas Exchange |
| Influenza (Flu) UPDATED! |
| Lung Cancer UPDATED! |
| Mechanical Ventilation |
| Near-Drowning |
| Pleural Effusion |
| Pneumonia |
| Pulmonary Embolism |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis |
| Tracheostomy |
Urinary Care Plans
Care plans for kidney and urinary system disorders:
| Urinary Care Plans |
|---|
| Acute Glomerulonephritis |
| Acute Renal Failure |
| Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) |
| Chronic Renal Failure |
| Hemodialysis |
| Nephrotic Syndrome |
| Peritoneal Dialysis |
| Urolithiasis (Renal Calculi) |
| Urinary Elimination (Urinary Incontinence & Urinary Retention) |
| Urinary Tract Infection |
| Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) |
| Wilms Tumor (Nephroblastoma) |
Recommended Resources for Nursing Care Plans
To further enhance your knowledge and skills in nursing care planning, consider these recommended resources:
Disclosure: The following are affiliate links from Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Please see our privacy policy for more details.
Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care
Nursing Care Plans – Nursing Diagnosis & Intervention (10th Edition)
Nurse’s Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions, and Rationales
Nursing Diagnosis Manual: Planning, Individualizing, and Documenting Client Care
References and Further Reading
(The references section from the original article is retained here for completeness.)
