Nursing Diagnosis: Knowledge Deficit
Definition of Knowledge Deficit
- Absence or deficiency of cognitive information related to a specific topic
Defining Characteristics of Knowledge Deficit
- Inability to follow through with directions
- Inability to perform well on a test
- Inappropriate or exaggerated behaviors (hysteria, hostility, agitation, apathy)
- Verbalization of the problem
- Deficient Knowledge (Specify)
Related Factors of Knowledge Deficit
- Cognitive limitation
- Information misinterpretation
- Lack of exposure
- Lack of interest in learning
- Lack of recall
- Unfamiliarity with information resources
Assessment Focus | Nursing Care Plan for Knowledge Deficit
Nursing Diagnosis for Knowledge Deficit | Assessment Focus of Knowledge Deficit; Expected Outcomes; Suggested NOC Outcomes;
Assessment Focus of Knowledge Deficit (Refer To Comprehensive Assessment Parameters.)
Expected Outcomes | Nursing Care Plan for Knowledge Deficit
The patient will
- Communicate desire to understand disease state and need for treatment.
- Demonstrate ability to perform new health-related procedures.
- Set realistic learning goals within target dates.
- State intention to make needed modifications in lifestyle.
Suggested NOC Outcomes | Nursing Diagnosis for Knowledge Deficit
Cognition; Concentration; Information Processing; Knowledge: Disease Process; Knowledge; Health Behaviors; Knowledge: Health Resources; Knowledge: Illness Care; Stress Level
Interventions of Knowledge Deficit | Nursing Care Plan for Knowledge Deficit
Nursing Diagnosis for Knowledge Deficit |Interventions of Knowledge Deficit; Suggested NIC Interventions
Nursing Interventions of Knowledge Deficit and Rationales
- Determine level of knowledge and skills patient already possesses about his or her health status; motivation to understand what is needed to improve health status; obstacles to learning; support systems; usual coping patterns; beliefs about health and treatment of disease; ethnicity; financial resources. Assessment information will assist in identifying appropriate interventions.
- Establish an environment of mutual trust and respect to enhance learning. Consistency between action and words, combined with the patient’s self-awareness ability to share this awareness with others, and receptiveness to new experiences form the basis of a trusting relationship.
- Develop with patient specific learning goals with target dates. Involving patient in planning meaningful goals encourages compliance.
- Select teaching strategies that will enhance teaching/learning effectiveness, such as discussion, demonstration, role-playing, and visual materials. Provide all the equipment needed for the patient to learn. This reduces frustration, aids learning, and minimizes dependence by promoting self-care.
- Teach those skills that the patient must incorporate into daily living. Have patient do return demonstration of each skill to aid in gaining confidence.
- When teaching, go slowly and repeat frequently. Offer small amounts of information and present it in various ways. By building cognition, patient will be better able to complete self-care measures. Include family members. Demonstrate to family members how each self-care measure is broken down into simple tasks to enhance patient’s success and foster a sense of control.
- Encourage family members to participate in and have patience toward learning process (patient may need to repeat new skills multiple times) to help create a therapeutic environment after discharge.
- Have patient incorporate learned skills into care while still in the hospital. This allows practice and time for feedback.
- Provide patient and/or family with names and telephone numbers of resource people or community agencies so that care is continuous and follow-up is possible after discharge.
- If financial hardship interferes with the ability of the family to provide equipment and supplies, offer a referral to a social worker to improve the family’s access to financial assistance.
Suggested NIC Interventions | Nursing Care Plan for Knowledge Deficit
Behavior Management; Behavior Modification; Decision-Making Support; Energy Management; Family Support; Financial Resource Assistance; Health Education; Healthcare Information Exchange: Risk Identification; Learning Facilitation; Support System Enhancement; Teaching Procedure/Treatment
This is a sample of nursing care plan for knowledge deficit.