The nursing assessment of a client with osteomyelitis of the left great toe reveals pain with partial weight-bearing, unsteady gait, and complaints of general weakness. Based on these data, the priority nursing diagnosis for the client is:
1. Impaired physical mobility.
2. Impaired skin integrity.
3. Ineffective coping.
4. Risk for injury.
Answer: 4. Risk for injury.
In this case, the prioritized nursing diagnosis would be risk for injury. The osteomyelitis patient with the left great toe is having pain under partial weight-bearing, unstable gait that can lead to falls and injuries. This risk is also due to the general weakness.
Could be an appropriate nursing diagnosis is impaired physical mobility but risk for injury takes preference because of the unsteady gait and fall’s. The impaired skin integrity may be a result of osteomyelitis but is not the priority. However, ineffective coping seems to develop as the client learns to live with an infection and mobility limits but is not included among assessment data.
If risk for injury is identified as the priority diagnosis, then nurse can make use of interventions such as safety precautions measures to avert falls; assistive devices for ambulation and fall prevention education. Dealing with the safety hazard helps to make sure that no further injury or complication occurs . Focusing on risk reduction enables the nurse to offer an appropriate regimen for this client.
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