This nursing care plan Risk for Infection includes a diagnosis and care plan for nurses with nursing interventions and outcomes for the following conditions: Patients who have undergone treatment for cancer or currently have an untreated cancer can develop who is called Neutropenia. Neutropenia is where a patient does not have enough “fighting cells” to kill infections that enter the body. Neutrophils are known as phagocytes because they ingest microbes. Neutrophils are the first responders when a trauma or infection has occurred. When neutrophils are low in numbers patients are at risk for infections. A patient who is low on neutrophils has a condition called neutropenia and will most likely be placed on neutrophenic precautions. This care plan can be useful in patients at risk for infection due to cancer or neutropenia.
Below is a case scenario that may be encountered as a nursing student or nurse in a hospital setting.
What are nursing care plans? How do you develop a nursing care plan? What nursing care plan book do you recommend helping you develop a nursing care plan?
This care plan is listed to give an example of how a Nurse (LPN or RN) may plan to treat a patient with those conditions.
Important Disclosure: Please keep in mind that these care plans are listed for Example/Educational purposes only, and some of these treatments may change over time. Do not treat a patient based on this care plan.
Care Plans are often developed in different formats. The formatting isn’t always important, and care plan formatting may vary among different nursing schools or medical jobs. Some hospitals may have the information displayed in digital format, or use pre-made templates. The most important part of the care plan is the content, as that is the foundation on which you will base your care.
Nursing Care Plan for: Risk for Infection (due to cancer or Neutropenia)
If you want to view a video tutorial on how to construct a care plan in nursing school, please view the video below. Otherwise, scroll down to view this completed care plan.
Scenario: |
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A 52 year old male is admitted to your floor due to being neutropenic. He is currently receiving radiation therapy for cancer. The patient had a CBC with differential drawn and his neutrophil levels are critically low <500. The patient complains of a sore throat and you have noted two mouth lesions on his upper and lower gums. Pt states he feels weak for overall okay. The patient is alert and oriented with VS HR 95, BP 110/78, Oxygen saturation 98% on room air, RR 16, Temperature 98.4.
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Nursing Diagnosis: |
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Risk for infections related to compromised host defenses secondary to insufficient leukocytes and radiation therapy as evidence by neutrophil count <500 and receiving radiation therapy.
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Subjective Data: |
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Pt states he feels weak but overall okay.
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Objective Data: |
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A 52 year old male is admitted to your floor due to being neutropenic. He is currently receiving radiation therapy for cancer. The patient had a CBC with differential drawn and his neutrophil levels are critically low <500. The patient complains of a sore throat and you have noted two mouth lesions on his upper and lower gums. The patient is alert and oriented with VS HR 95, BP 110/78, Oxygen saturation 98% on room air, RR 16, Temperature 98.4.
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Nursing Outcomes: |
| -Pt will remain free from any nosocomial infections while in the hospital.-Pt will verbalize 5 ways on how to prevent acquiring infections from foods and other people.-Pt’s family, friends, and hospital staff will verbalize the importance of hand hygiene.
-Pt’s family, friends, and hospital staff will demonstrate how to wear personal protective equipment before, during, and after visiting the patient. -Pt’s will verbalize the importance of encouraging family and friends to stay at home until his neutropenia resolves. |
Nursing Interventions: |
| -The nurse will perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact.-The nurse will don the proper PPE before patient contact.-The nurse will assess pt’s family, friends, and other hospital staff understanding of hand hygiene and personal protective equipment usage.
-The nurse will try to eliminate the use of any unneccessary blood draws. -The nurse will teach the patient 5 ways on how to prevent acquiring infections from foods and other people.
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