Assess developmental stage; family system; role in family; sibling position; health history; mental status, including affect, general appearance, mood; cognitive ability; support systems; patient's ability to identify choices; readiness for change to occur; and level of knowledge for positive decision-making, coping mechanisms, and environmental factors. Information from assessment will assist the nurse in identifying appropriate interventions.- Encourage bathing, grooming, and other hygiene functions for the patient every day as needed. Encourage patient to do as much as possible for self. Greater independence will help strengthen self-esteem.
- Keep patient informed about what to expect and when to expect it. Accurate information reduces anxiety.
Teach self-healing techniques to both patient and family such as meditation, guided imagery, yoga, and prayer. Teach patient how to incorporate the use of self-healing techniques in carrying out usual daily activities. These techniques help calm the mind and promote ability to cooperate with the difficulties associated with low self-esteem.- Encourage patient to talk about personal assets and accomplishments and about improvements in condition no matter how small these may seem. Give positive feedback. Conversation assists you to evaluate the patient's self-concept and adaptive abilities.
- Provide ongoing, positive feedback about patient's behavior to clear up misconceptions and increase feelings of self-esteem.
- Direct patient's focus beyond the present state. Focusing on the present state alone will make it difficult for patient to plan activities that will move patient forward.
Help patient involve the family, community, clergy, and friends with changes to the care plan to increase the potential of patient's control over self-care outcomes.- Refer patient and family to other professional caregivers, for example, dietitian, social worker, clergy, and mental health professional. Support groups such as ostomy clubs, I Can Cope, and Reach for Recovery can provide physical, material, financial, and emotional resources to patient and the family during the recovery period.
- Assist patient in utilizing appropriate resources by contacting family and scheduling follow-up appointments. This helps give patient a sense of direction and control over future care.
Suggested NIC Interventions
Assertiveness Training; Coping Enhancement; Self-Modification Assistance; Self-Responsibility Facilitation |