Medical Surgical Nursing

protection, energy
conservation, and work
simplification concepts.

 Provide appropriate

assistive devices.

 Reinforce correct

and safe use of

assistive devices.

 Allow patient to

control timing of

self-care activities.

 Explore with the

patient different

ways to perform

difficult tasks or

ways to enlist the

help of someone

else.

meeting self-care

needs

3. Consult with community
   health care agencies when
   individuals have attained a
   maximum level of self-care
   yet still have some deficits,
   especially regarding safety.
   3. Individuals differ in
   ability and willingness to
   perform self-care
   activities. Changes in
   ability to care for self may
   lead to a decrease in
   personal safety.
   Nursing Diagnosis: Disturbed body image related to physical and psychological
   changes and dependency imposed by chronic illness
   Goal: Adapts to physical and psychological changes imposed by the rheumatic disease
   NURSING
   INTERVENTIONS

RATIONALE EXPECTED

OUTCOMES

1. Help patient identify

elements of control over
disease symptoms and

treatment.

1. The individual's self-
   concept may be altered by
   the disease or its
   treatment.

 Verbalizes an

awareness that

changes taking place

in self-concept are

normal responses to

rheumatic disease

and other chronic

illnesses

 Identifies strategies

to cope with altered

self-concept

2. Encourage patient's

verbalization of feelings,
perceptions, and fears.

 Help to assess

present situation and

identify problems.

 Assist to identify

past coping

mechanisms.

 Assist to identify

effective coping

mechanisms.

2. The individual's coping
   strategies reflect the
   strength of his or her self-
   concept.