Nursing diagnosis Nursing Care Plans Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Common Nursing Diagnosis and Interventions found on Nursing Care Plans Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Risk for self directed or other directed violence
• Defensive coping
• Impaired social interaction
• Ineffective coping
• Low self esteem
• Noncompliance
• Anxiety (moderate to severe)
• Compromised family coping
• Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
• Ineffective family therapeutic regimen management
• Interrupted family processes
• Risk for impaired parenting

Key outcomes nursing diagnosis Nursing Care Plans Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Patient and his family will report concern about difficulties in social interactions.
• Patient and his family will communicate understanding of special dietary needs.
• Patient will demonstrate effective social interaction skills.
• Patient and his family will comply with the prescribed treatment regimen.
• Patient's family will discuss the impact of the patient's illness and feelings about it with a health care professional.
• Parents will utilize support groups and other community resources.
• Patient will acknowledge and respond to efforts by others to establish communication.

Nursing interventions for ADHD

• Set realistic expectations and limits because the patient with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is easily frustrated
• Always remain calm and consistent with the child.
• Keep all your instructions to the child short and simple.
• Provide praise and rewards whenever possible.
• Provide the patient with diversional activities suited to his short attention span.
• Help the parents and other family members develop planning and organizing systems to help them cope more effectively with the child's short attention span.

Nursing interventions for ADHD related to nursing diagnosis:
Nursing diagnosis Risk for self directed or other-directed violence

•  Observe client’s behavior frequently.
•  Observe for suicidal behaviors: Verbal statements, such as “ statement going to kill myself”
• Determine suicidal intent and available means. Ask how where and when you plan to kill yourself
• Obtain contract from client not to harm self and agreeing to seek out staff when ideation occurs.
• Help client to recognize when anger occurs and to accept those feelings
• Act as a role model for appropriate expression of angry feelings.
• Give positive reinforcement.

Nursing diagnosis Defensive coping

• Encourage client to recognize and verbalize feelings of inadequacy and need for acceptance from others and to recognize how these feelings provoke defensive behaviors
• Provide immediate, fact, nonthreatening feedback for unacceptable behaviors
• Help client identify situations that provoke defensiveness
• Practice with role play for appropriate responses
• Give positive feedback for acceptable behaviors
• Evaluate and discuss with client the effectiveness of the new behaviors and any modifications for improvement

Nursing diagnosis Impaired social interaction

• Develop trust relationship
• Give to the client’s constructive criticism and positive reinforcement for client’s efforts
• Give Positive feedback to client
• Provide group situations for client

Nursing diagnosis Ineffective coping

• Provide safe environment for continuous large muscle movement, If client is hyperactive
• Provide large motoric activities
• Do not debate, argue, rationalize, or bargain with the client.
• Explore with client and discus alternative ways of handling frustration that would be most suited for client

Nursing diagnosis Low self esteem

Nursing diagnosis Anxiety

• Establish a trusting relationship
• Maintain an atmosphere of calmness
• Offer support during times of elevated anxiety, Use of touch is comforting for some clients
• When anxiety diminishes, help client to recognize specific events that preceded onset of anxiety.
• Provide help to client to recognize signs of escalating anxiety
• On escalating anxiety provide tranquilizing medication, as ordered

Nursing diagnosis Compromised family coping
Nursing diagnosis Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
Nursing diagnosis Ineffective family therapeutic regimen management
Nursing diagnosis Interrupted family processes
Nursing diagnosis Risk for impaired parenting


Patient teaching Nursing Care Plans Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Make certain that the parents fully understand the child's prescribed medication regimen.
• Teach the patient and family about any adverse reactions that may occur, emphasizing those that may require immediate medical attention.
• Encourage the parents to provide the child with nutritious snacks such as fruit to supplement his dietary intake.
• Refer the parents to appropriate support groups.