Nursing Care Plan for Activity Intolerance: Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance
Definition of Activity Intolerance
- Insufficient physiological or psychological energy to endure or complete required or desired daily activities
Defining Characteristics of Activity Intolerance
- Abnormal blood pressure and heart rate response to activity
- Electrocardiographic changes reflecting arrhythmias and/or ischemia
- Exertional discomfort and/or dyspnea
- Verbal report of fatigue and/or weakness
Related Factors of Activity Intolerance
- Bed rest
- Immobility
- Generalized weakness
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Imbalance between oxygen supply and demand
Assessment Focus | Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance
Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance | Assessment Focus of Activity Intolerance; Expected Outcomes; Suggested NOC Outcomes
Assessment Focus of Activity Intolerance (Refer To Comprehensive Assessment Parameters.)
- Activity/exercise
- Cardiac function
- Respiratory function
Expected Outcomes | Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance
The patient will
- Regain and maintain muscle mass and strength.
- Maintain maximum joint range of motion (ROM).
- Perform isometric exercises.
- Help perform self-care activities.
- Maintain heart rate, rhythm, and blood pressure within expected range during periods of activity.
- State understanding of and willingness to cooperate in maximizing the activity level.
- Perform self-care activities to tolerance level.
Suggested NOC Outcomes | Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance
Activity Tolerance; Endurance; Energy Conservation; Self-Care: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs); Self-Care: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
Nursing Interventions of Activity Intolerance | Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance
Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance | Nursing Interventions of Activity Intolerance and Rationale; Suggested NIC Interventions
- Monitor physiologic responses to increased activity level, including respirations, heart rate and rhythm, and blood pressure, to ensure that these return to normal within 2–5 min after stopping exercise.
- Perform active or passive ROM exercises to all extremities every 2–4 hr. These exercises foster muscle strength and tone, maintain joint mobility, and prevent contractures.
- Turn and reposition patient at least every 2 hr. Establish a turning schedule for the dependent patient. Post schedule at bedside and monitor frequency. Turning and repositioning prevent skin breakdown and improve lung expansion and prevent atelectasis.
- Maintain proper body alignment at all times to avoid contractures and maintain optimal musculoskeletal balance and physiologic function.
- Encourage active exercise: Provide a trapeze or other assistive device whenever possible. Such devices simplify moving and turning for many patients and allow them to strengthen some upper-body muscles.
- Teach about isometric exercises to allow patients to maintain or increase muscle tone and joint mobility.
- Teach caregivers to assist patients with ADLs in a way that maximizes patients’ potential. This enables caregivers to participate in patients’ care and encourages them to support patients’ independence.
- Provide emotional support and encouragement to help improve patient’s self-concept and motivate patient to perform ADLs.
- Involve patient in planning and decision making. Having the ability to participate will encourage greater compliance with the plan for activity.
- Have patient perform ADLs. Begin slowly and increase daily, as tolerated. Performing ADLs will assist patient to regain independence and enhance self-esteem.
- Refer to case manager/social worker to ensure that a home assessment has been done and that whatever modifications were needed to accommodate the patient’s level of mobility have been made. Making adjustments in the home will allow the patient a greater degree of independence in performing ADLs, allowing better conservation of energy.
Suggested NIC Interventions | Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance
Activity Therapy; Ambulation; Body Mechanics Promotion; Energy Management; Exercise Promotion: Strength Training; Exercise Therapy: Balance, Joint Mobility, Muscle Control
This is a sample of Nursing Diagnosis for Activity Intolerance.
