Making a nursing care plan is essential in providing effective and tailored care for your patients. It can also help you to communicate with other members of the healthcare team, as well as the patient and their family. In this post, we’ll explain a nursing care plan and show you how to create one for your patients.
Define the Problem
So your patient has a new diagnosis. What do you do?
The first step is to define the problem. What is the medical issue at hand, and how does it impact the patient’s daily life? Once you clearly understand the problem, you can begin to develop a nursing care plan that will address the patient’s specific needs.
Set Goals
Your care plan should always start with setting goals. What do you want to achieve? Are you hoping to improve the patient’s condition? Help them get back to their baseline? Or simply make their stay more comfortable?
Once you’ve decided on your goals, you can start thinking about the steps you’ll need to take to achieve them. Be as specific as possible, and make sure to keep track of your progress so you can update your care plan as needed.
Select Nursing Interventions
Now that you’ve outlined the patient’s problems and selected nursing interventions, it’s time to decide on a course of action. This is where you put your care plan into action by deciding what steps to take and what order to take them.
Remember, always start with the basics and work your way up. If the patient is stable, try to address their problems in the order they occurred. If they’re unstable, however, you may need to address life-saving issues and work on their other problems.
Evaluate the Plan
Now that you have a care plan, it’s essential to evaluate it regularly and make changes as needed. This includes assessing the patient’s condition, reviewing care goals, and adjusting treatment as necessary.
Remember, the care plan should always be tailored to the individual patient. So if something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to make changes. The goal is to provide the best possible care for your patient!
Implement the Plan
Now that your care plan is complete, it’s time to implement it. This is where your nursing skills will be put to the test!
There are a few key things to keep in mind when implementing a care plan:
always follow your institution’s protocols, as they may vary from those described here
ensure that you have all the supplies you need before starting
be aware of your patient’s condition and any changes that may occur
communicate with your team members (including doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals) to make sure everyone is on the same page
Documentation
Now that you know how to create a nursing care plan, it’s time to learn about documentation. When creating a care plan, it’s essential to document all of your assessments, interventions, and decisions. This information will help you track your patient’s progress and ensure that they’re receiving the best possible care.
There are many ways to document nursing care, but the most common method is through note-taking. You can use a traditional paper notebook or a digital note-taking app like Evernote or OneNote. Whichever way you choose, be sure to make notes of everything relating to your patient’s care, from their medications and treatments to their progress and any changes in their condition.
Nursing Care Plan List
This section lists the sample nursing care plans (NCP) and NANDA nursing diagnoses for various diseases and health conditions. They are segmented into categories:
Basic Nursing and General Care Plans
Miscellaneous nursing care plans examples that don’t fit other categories:
- Cancer (Oncology Nursing)
- End-of-Life Care (Hospice Care or Palliative)
- Geriatric Nursing (Older Adult)
- Prolonged Bed Rest
- Surgery (Perioperative Client)
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
Surgery and Perioperative Care Plans
Care plans that involve surgical intervention.
- 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 about the different diseases of the cardiovascular system:
- Angina Pectoris (Coronary Artery Disease)
- Cardiac Arrhythmia (Digitalis Toxicity)
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiogenic Shock
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Heart Failure UPDATED!
- Hypertension UPDATED!
- Hypovolemic Shock
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pacemaker Therapy
Endocrine and Metabolic Care Plans
Nursing care plans (NCP) related to the endocrine system and metabolism:
- Acid-Base Balance
- – Respiratory Acidosis
- – Respiratory Alkalosis
- – Metabolic Acidosis
- – Metabolic Alkalosis
- Addison’s Disease
- Cushing’s Disease
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 1
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2Â UPDATED!
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)
- Eating Disorders: Anorexia & Bulimia Nervosa
- Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances:
- – Fluid Balance: Hypervolemia & Hypovolemia
- – Potassium (K) Imbalances: Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia
- – Sodium (Na) Imbalances: Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia
- – Magnesium (Mg) Imbalances: Hypermagnesemia and Hypomagnesemia
- – Calcium (Ca) Imbalances: Hypercalcemia and Hypocalcemia
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Obesity
- Thyroidectomy
Gastrointestinal
Care plans (NCP) covering the disorders of the gastrointestinal and digestive system:
- Appendectomy
- Cholecystectomy
- Cholecystitis and Cholelithiasis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis
- Ileostomy & Colostomy
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intussusception
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Pancreatitis
- Peritonitis
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Subtotal Gastrectomy
Genitourinary
Care plans related to reproductive and urinary system disorders:
- Acute Glomerulonephritis
- Acute Renal Failure
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Chronic Renal Failure
- Hemodialysis
- Hysterectomy
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Peritoneal Dialysis
- Prostatectomy
- Urolithiasis (Renal Calculi)
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)
Hematologic and Lymphatic
Care plans related to the hematologic and lymphatic system:
- Anaphylactic Shock
- Anemia UPDATED!
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
- Hemophilia
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Sepsis and Septicemia
- Sickle Cell Anemia Crisis
Infectious Diseases
NCPs for communicable and infectious diseases:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (HIV Positive)
- Acute Rheumatic Fever
- Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
- Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
- Influenza (Flu)
- Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Integumentary
All about disorders and conditions affecting the integumentary system:
- Burn Injury
- Dermatitis
- Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
- Pressure Ulcer (Bedsores)
Maternal and Newborn Care Plans
Nursing care plans about the care of the pregnant mother and her infant. See care plans for maternity and obstetric nursing:
- Abruptio Placenta
- Cesarean Birth UPDATED!
- Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip
- Dysfunctional Labor (Dystocia)
- Elective Termination
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus UPDATED!
- Hyperbilirubinemia
- Labor Stages, Induced and Augmented Labor
- Neonatal Sepsis
- Perinatal Loss
- Placenta Previa
- Postpartum Hemorrhage UPDATED!
- Postpartum Thrombophlebitis
- Prenatal Hemorrhage
- Precipitous Labor
- Preeclampsia and Gestational Hypertensive Disorders UPDATED!
- Premature Dilation of the Cervix
- Prenatal Infection
- Preterm Labor
- Puerperal Infection
- Substance Abuse in Pregnancy
Mental Health and Psychiatric
Care plans for mental health and psychiatric nursing:
- Alcohol Withdrawal
- Anxiety and Panic Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Major Depression
- Personality Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Sexual Assault
- Substance Dependence and Abuse
- Suicide Behaviors
Musculoskeletal
Care plans related to the musculoskeletal system:
- Amputation
- Congenital Hip Dysplasia
- Fracture UPDATED!
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Laminectomy (Disc Surgery)
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Total Joint (Knee, Hip) Replacement
Neurological
Nursing care plans (NCP) related to nervous system disorders:
- Alzheimer’s Disease UPDATED!
- Brain Tumor
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)Â UPDATED!
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Meningitis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Seizure Disorder
- Spinal Cord Injury
Ophthalmic
Care plans relating to eye disorders:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Macular Degeneration
Pediatric Nursing Care Plans
Nursing care plans (NCP) for pediatric conditions and diseases:
- Acute Glomerulonephritis
- Acute Rheumatic Fever
- Apnea
- Benign Febrile Convulsions
- Brain Tumor
- Bronchiolitis
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cerebral Palsy
- Child Abuse
- Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Congenital Hip Dysplasia
- Croup Syndrome
- Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testes)
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 1
- Dying Child
- Epiglottitis
- Febrile Seizure
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Hospitalized Child
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypospadias and Epispadias
- Intussusception
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Meningitis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Osteogenic Sarcoma (Osteosarcoma)
- Otitis Media
- Scoliosis
- Spina Bifida
- Tonsillitis and Adenoiditis
- Umbilical and Inguinal Hernia
- Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)
- Wilms Tumor (Nephroblastoma)
Respiratory
Care plans for respiratory system disorders:
- Asthma
- Bronchiolitis
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Hemothorax and Pneumothorax
- Influenza (Flu)
- Lung Cancer
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Near-Drowning
- Pleural Effusion
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Tuberculosis
- Tracheostomy
Conclusion
Creating a nursing care plan is an essential step in providing quality nursing care. The care plan should be tailored to the individual needs of the patient and should be updated as needed.
