Domain 1.Health promotion
Class 2. Health management
Diagnostic Code: 00300
Nanda label: Ineffective home maintenance behaviors
Diagnostic focus: Home maintenance behaviors
Introduction to Nursing Diagnosis of Ineffective Home Maintenance Behaviors
Good home maintenance behaviors are essential for maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Ineffective home maintenance behaviors can include anything from leaving the toilet unflushed to failure to use protective measures, such as changing air filters or cleaning dangerous surfaces.
When a patient exhibits a pattern of ineffective home maintenance behaviors, it can lead to failed health outcomes and put patients at risk of injury. Nurses should assess a patient’s home maintenance behaviors and intervene if appropriate.
NANDA Nursing Diagnosis Definition: Ineffective Home Maintenance Behaviors
According to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), the definition of ineffective home maintenance behaviors is “a pattern of behaviors that fail to provide for a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment at home.”
Defining Characteristics
Subjectively, a patient may report feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to keep their home in order, or may not have known the importance of good home maintenance habits. The patient may also have difficulty with the physical, cognitive or financial capacity to maintain their home.
Objectively, ineffective home maintenance behaviors may include behaviors such as failure to do regular home-cleaning tasks, incomplete safety checks of the home environment, failure to change air filters, leaving flammable materials near an open hearth, and so on.
Related Factors
There are a variety of factors which may contribute to a patient’s inability to properly maintain their home. These related factors can include physical, cognitive, or financial constraints such as physical disability, illness, memory loss, lack of resources, or lack of education about home maintenance. Other possible contributing factors include mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, substance abuse, and environmental factors such as living in a dangerous neighborhood or having a stressful home environment.
At Risk Population
Certain population groups are more at risk for developing ineffective home maintenance behaviors due to a variety of factors. The elderly, disabled individuals, those with chronic illnesses, and low-income households are all at higher risk of being unable to provide a safe, comfortable and supportive environment in the home. Low educational levels, lack of knowledge and access to community resources also make certain groups of people more vulnerable.
Associated Conditions
Ineffective home maintenance behaviors can lead to a variety of negative conditions, including physical injury, illness, poor hygiene, and inadequate nutrition. It can also lead to an increased risk of falls, fires, poisonous gas buildup, mold growth and insect infestation. Long-term exposure to these hazards can have serious long-term effects on a person’s physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
Suggestions for Use of the NANDA Nursing Diagnosis
By assessing a patient’s home maintenance behaviors, nurses are better able to identify potential risks and suggest interventions to improve the patient’s safety and wellbeing. Early detection leads to improved outcomes and helps nurses to provide a better quality of care.
Suggested Alternative NANDA Nursing Diagnoses
In addition to Ineffective Home Maintenance Behaviors, nurses should consider other related diagnoses, such as Risk for Injury, Imbalanced Nutrition, Risk for Falls, and Anxiety. These diagnoses may be more applicable, depending on the patient’s situation.
Usage Tips
When assessing a patient’s home maintenance behaviors, nurses should consider the patient’s overall situation and any associated conditions. Empathy and understanding should be used when communicating with patients, as well as information about available community resources.
NOC Outcomes
Nurses should be aware of the following NOC Outcomes which can result from the nursing diagnosis of Ineffective Home Maintenance Behavior: Safe Home Environment, Nutritional Management, Mobility level, Self-Care, Household Management, Medication Management, Parenting, Social Interaction, Sleep/Rest, and Knowledge Deficit.
Evaluation Objectives and Criteria
Some evaluation objectives and criteria have been identified for the care of patients exhibiting ineffective home maintenance behaviors. These objectives include identifying the patient’s limitations and needs, assessing the patient’s knowledge and skills for completing tasks, improving functional independence, providing resources for proper home maintenance, and strengthening home safety.
NIC Interventions
Interventions for the care of a patient exhibiting ineffective home maintenance behaviours include: teaching clinical care techniques, providing safety education, providing verbal and written instruction, supporting decision-making regarding home safety, supervising implementation of safety practices, accommodating physical and/or mobility limitations, participating in group discussions, engaging family members as necessary, providing environmental modifications, making referrals to community services and resources, and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.
Nursing Activities
Nurses should implement appropriate interventions to reduce the risk of harm associated with ineffective home maintenance behaviors. Identifying any problems early allows nurses to intervene and formulate a plan of care to address the patient’s individual needs. This includes educating patients on home safety measures, finding appropriate resources, providing supervision, and adjusting the home environment where necessary.
Conclusion
Caring for a patient exhibiting ineffective home maintenance behavior can be challenging. In order to reduce the risk of harm, nurses need to be alert to signs of ineffective home maintenance behaviors, evaluate risk factors, and provide appropriate interventions. By implementing a comprehensive assessment and care plan, nurses can improve patient outcomes and ensure a safe and supportive home environment.
5 FAQs About Nursing Diagnosis of Ineffective Home Maintenance Behaviors
Q1: What is a nursing diagnosis for ineffective home maintenance behaviors?
A1: According to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), the definition of ineffective home maintenance behaviors is “a pattern of behaviors that fail to provide for a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment at home.”
Q2: What are some of the defining characteristics of ineffective home maintenance behaviors?
A2: At an subjective level, a patient may report feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to maintain their home in order. Objectively, these behaviors may include failure to do regular home-cleaning tasks, incomplete safety checks of the home environment, failure to change air filters, leaving flammable materials near an open hearth, and so on.
Q3: Who is at risk for developing ineffective home maintenance behaviors?
A3: Certain population groups are more at risk for developing ineffective home maintenance behaviors due to a variety of factors. These risk groups include the elderly, disabled individuals, those with chronic illnesses, low-income households, those with low educational levels, and those with mental health disorders.
Q4: What are some of the associated conditions of ineffective home maintenance behaviors?
A4: Ineffective home maintenance behaviors can lead to a variety of negative conditions, including physical injury, illness, poor hygiene, and inadequate nutrition. It can also lead to an increased risk of falls, fires, poisonous gas buildup, mold growth and insect infestation.
Q5: What kind of interventions should nurses implement when caring for a patient exhibiting ineffective home maintenance behaviors?
A5: Nurses should implement appropriate interventions to reduce the risk of harm associated with ineffective home maintenance behaviors. These interventions include teaching clinical care techniques, providing safety education, providing verbal and written instruction, supporting decision-making regarding home safety, supervising implementation of safety practices, accommodating physical and/or mobility limitations, engaging family members as necessary, providing environmental modifications, making referrals to community services and resources, and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.