Nursing diagnosis Powerlessness

Powerlessness

Powerlessness

Domain 9. Coping-stress tolerance
Class 2. Coping responses
Diagnostic Code: 00125
Nanda label: Powerlessness
Diagnostic focus: Power

Powerlessness is one of the Nursing Diagnoses identified by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA). It is defined as a state in which an individual is unable to influence decisions, events, and outcomes. Powerlessness can have both physical and psychological effects on a patient, and it can even lead to secondary conditions, such as depression.

Table of Contents

NANDA Nursing Diagnosis Definition

The NANDA definition of powerlessness is “experienced sense of having no control over events in one's life affecting health status." This means that the individual has a feeling of being powerless to influence events and cannot make decisions that will affect their health. It is usually due to an inability to make changes in their environment or circumstances.

Defining Characteristics

  • Subjective: Feeling of hopelessness, fatalism, helplessness, lack of motivation, passivity
  • Objective: Inability to initiate, plan, or complete activities; disregards or is oblivious to warnings; needs reminders or prompting to take action

Related Factors

There are many factors that can lead to feelings of powerlessness, including poverty, lack of information or education, inadequate resources, illness, injury, disabilities, or social conditions. In addition, powerlessness can also be caused by a perceived loss of power due to increased responsibilities.

At Risk Population

Certain populations are more likely to experience powerlessness than others, such as those living in poverty, individuals with disabilities, elderly people, and individuals with chronic illness or addiction. Lack of access to healthcare services and inadequate education can also contribute to feelings of powerlessness.

Associated Conditions

Powerlessness can lead to a range of associated conditions, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, aggression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. It can also cause exhaustion, irritability, and a lack of self-confidence.

Suggestions of Use

Nursing diagnosis powerlessness can be used to assess the psychological and physical needs of patients, as well as to evaluate how the environment may be influencing their mental and emotional state. It can also be used to create effective care plans that will address underlying issues and help the patient regain a sense of control.

Suggested Alternative NANDA Nursing Diagnosis

  • Adaptive Capacity: Family Coping, Compromised
  • Coping, Ineffective
  • Decisional Conflict
  • Readiness for Enhanced Decision-Making
  • Self-Care Deficit: Bathing

Usage Tips

When using nursing diagnosis powerlessness to assess a patient, it is important to take into account other diagnoses as well as co-morbid conditions. It is also important to explore the patient’s environment and family dynamics to evaluate whether any external factors may be influencing their experience of powerlessness.

NOC Outcomes

  • Decision-Making — The patient is able to make decisions in accordance with his or her values and goals.
  • Health Knowledge — The patient is able to demonstrate appropriate health behavior to maintain or improve his/her health status.
  • Self-Care Management — The patient demonstrates effective self-care strategies to maintain or improve his/her health status.
  • Coping — The patient utilizes appropriate coping strategies to cope with stress and other adverse life events.

Evaluation Objectives and Criteria

It is important to evaluate both objective and subjective criteria when evaluating a patient’s response to nursing diagnosis powerlessness. Examples of objective criteria include the ability to initiate, plan, and complete activities; adequate decision-making skills; and the ability to adequately manage self-care. Examples of subjective criteria include self-reported feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, and lack of motivation.

NIC Interventions

  • Encouragement: Provide verbal encouragement and positive reinforcement to increase patient’s self-confidence.
  • Teaching: Provide instruction to the patient on decision-making, problem-solving, and self-care skills.
  • Coordination: Coordinate care with other healthcare providers to ensure the patient is receiving the best care possible.
  • Assessment: Assess the patient’s experience of powerlessness and associated conditions.
  • Counseling: Provide counseling and crisis intervention focused on problem-solving, goal-setting, and communication.

Nursing Activities

Nursing activities for a diagnosis of powerlessness include engaging the patient in conversations about their concerns; providing education and resources that empower the patient; assessing risk factors; monitoring the environment; promoting self-care and self-efficacy; providing emotional support; and developing an effective care plan.

Conclusion

Nursing diagnosis powerlessness is an important nursing diagnosis that can have a significant effect on a patient’s wellbeing and quality of life. As nurses, we must be aware of this diagnosis, as well as other related conditions, in order to properly assess and treat our patients. With the right resources and care plan, a patient can learn to identify and address their feelings of powerlessness in order to improve their health and wellbeing.

FAQs

  • What is Nursing Diagnosis Powerlessness? Nursing Diagnosis Powerlessness is a condition in which an individual is unable to influence decisions, events, and outcomes that affect their health. It is usually due to an inability to make changes in their environment or circumstances.
  • What are the associated conditions of powerlessness? Powerlessness can lead to a range of associated conditions, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, aggression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. It can also cause exhaustion, irritability, and a lack of self-confidence.
  • What populations are at risk for powerlessness? Groups that are at higher risk of experiencing powerlessness include those living in poverty, individuals with disabilities, elderly people, and individuals with chronic illness or addiction.
  • How is powerlessness assessed? When assessing a patient with a diagnosis of powerlessness, it is important to take into consideration other diagnoses and comorbid conditions, as well as the patient’s environment and family dynamics, to evaluate how the external factors may be influencing their experience of powerlessness.
  • What nursing activities are used to treat powerlessness? Treatment for powerlessness includes engaging the patient in conversations about their concerns; providing education and resources that empower the patient; assessing risk factors; monitoring the environment; promoting self-care and self-efficacy; providing emotional support; and creating an effective care plan.

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