The nurse is caring for a 1-month-old girl with low-set ears and severe hypotonia who wasdiagnosed with trisomy 18. Which nursing diagnosis would the nurse identify as most likely? A. Interrupted family process related to the child’s diagnosisB. Deficient knowledge deficit related to the genetic disorderC. Grieving related to the child’s poor prognosisD. Ineffective coping related to stress of providing care
Answer: CRationale: Grieving related to the child’s prognosis is a diagnosis specific to this child’s care. The prognosis for trisomy 18 is that the child will not survive beyond the first year of life. Ineffective coping related to the stress of providing care, deficient knowledge related to the genetic disorder, and interrupted family process due to the child’s diagnosis could be appropriate for any family of a child with a genetic disorder.
The most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this case is C. Grieving related to the child’s poor prognosis. Trisomy 18 is a genetic condition that usually results in stillbirth or death shortly after birth. The child’s low-set ears and severe hypotonia are indicative of physical abnormalities that are commonly seen in babies with this condition. Therefore, it is likely that the child has a poor prognosis, which can cause significant grief and emotional distress for the family. The focus of care should be on providing emotional support and counseling to the family, rather than just on the physical care of the baby. The nurse should work with the interdisciplinary team to develop a plan of care that addresses the family’s emotional needs, such as providing information about the condition, discussing options for care, and offering resources to help cope with the situation.
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