Domain 7. Role relationship
Class 3. Role performance
Diagnostic Code: 00052
Nanda label: Impaired social interaction
Diagnostic focus: Social interaction
Nursing diagnosis is the basis of planning and nursing practice essential to provide excellent care to the patient. It needs a thorough assessment of the patient’s physical and mental condition and interdisciplinary consideration to formulate the diagnosis. Impaired social interaction diagnosis is one of the many important nursing diagnosis because it is often the cause of several health complications. This diagnosis needs detailed evaluation to assess the patient’s problem accurately and to plan the most appropriate interventions.
NANDA Nursing Diagnosis Definition
NANDA Nursing Diagnosis Definiton of impaired social interaction highlights the potential of experiencing an alteration in the patient’s ability to socialize with others. This impairment can be temporary or a chronic one. Patients may experience factors such as altered communication, confinement, cultural taboos or sensory impairment resulting in disrupted interaction. The patient might even withdraw from daily activities due to underlying anxiety or depression caused by the impaired social interaction.
Defining Characteristics
Subjective defining characteristics of impaired social interaction include identifying lack of interest in social activities, feeling isolated from family or friends, lack of concern for others, lack of response to verbal prompts etc. Objective defining characteristics include unresponsiveness to compliments, talking in monosyllables, inability to participate in conversations etc.
Related Factors
There can be multiple factors that may contribute to the occurrence of impaired social interactions. These can include inexperience in dealing with social situations, cultural differences, lack of appropriate social skills, past history of poor interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, poverty, presence of mental illness, sensory impairment, physical illness and family dynamics.
At Risk Population
Patients at risk of developing impaired social interactions may include people who are confined to single rooms, undergoing physical or mental illnesses, suffering from financial constraints or disabilities, facing life changes due to aging, having a language barrier, suffering from substance abuse or living in institutional settings.
Associated Conditions
Impaired social interaction may lead to physical, emotional and social consequences. Examples of associated conditions include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of intellectual stimulation, lack of nutrition and health, suicidal thoughts and tendencies and lower quality of life.
Suggestions for Use
When diagnosing impaired social interaction, health practitioners should assess the patient’s current abilities and levels of functioning. Health care professionals should create a suitable environment for the patient, incorporate restorative approaches, use team-based interventions to address the social interaction problem, provide appropriate material and equipment depending on the presence of physical and sensory limitations, focus on a goal-oriented plan and use psychosocial measures to enhance communication.
Suggested Alternative NANDA Nursing Diagnosis
Health professionals should consider alternative NANDA Nursing Diagnosis for patients with impaired social interaction, such as Alteration in Comfort, Alteration in Coping, Alteration in Thought Processes, Deficient Knowledge: Disease Process and Cross-Cultural Caring and Ethnocentric Caring.
Usage Tips
It is best practice to use standardized terminologies when diagnosing patients. Health professionals should look up the latest version of NANDA-I and select nursing diagnosis based on individual assessment, leaving out the irrelevant and unnecessary ones. When implementing the interventions, tailored approaches should be utilized based on the patient’s preferences and abilities.
NOC Outcomes
NOC (Nursing Outcomes Classification) outcomes for patients with impaired social interaction include Interpersonal Relationships, Coping Ability and Social Interaction.
- Interpersonal Relationships – This is the patient’s ability to establish and maintain relationships with others.
- Coping Ability – This refers to the patient’s ability to confront and manage stress-inducing situations.
- Social Interaction – This is the patient’s inclination and capability to interact with others in a socially acceptable manner.
Evaluation Objectives and Criteria
The evaluation objectives and criteria should include the patient’s progress towards meeting goals, identifications of any areas of weakness, comparison of initial and final assessments, engagement in socially acceptable activities, increased functioning in activities of daily living, Reduction in early symptoms and Diagnostic testing results.
NIC Interventions
NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification) interventions that can be used to treat patients with impaired social interaction include Validation Therapy, Cognitive Stimulation, Coping Enhancement, Socialization Enhancement and Striving for Independence.
- Validation Therapy – This intervention focuses on enhancing the patient’s communication skills by validating their feelings, exhibiting understanding and showing empathy.
- Cognitive Stimulation – This is a structured approach that provides challenges to the patient’s cognitive functioning in order to increase their responsiveness.
- Coping Enhancement – This intervention helps the patient identify stress-reducing strategies to cope with psychological issues.
- Socialization Enhancement – This involves providing the patient with opportunities to interact with others using verbal and non-verbal techniques.
- Striving for Independence – In this intervention, the patient’s independence in activities of daily living is promoted to reduce the reliance on others.
Nursing Activities
Nursing activities could include patient monitoring, charting and data reporting, implementation of prescribed treatments, patient and family education regarding social interaction, valence and mood identification, creating a safe environment for interaction, recreational and leisure activities and other interventions as per medical prescription.
Conclusion
Impaired social interaction is an important nursing diagnosis that requires prompt assessment and treatment to prevent serious health complications and psychological distress in the patient. With the use of NANDA Nursing Diagnosis and NIC interventions, nurses can ensure better outcomes for patients suffering from this medical condition.
FAQs
- What is impaired social interaction?
Impaired social interaction is a nursing diagnosis given to patients who suffer from disturbances in their ability to communicate and interact with others due to physical or psychological conditions. - What are the associated conditions of impaired social interaction?
The associated conditions of impaired social interaction include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of intellectual stimulation and lower quality of life. - What are the suggested alternative NANDA Nursing Diagnosis for impaired social interaction?Suggested alternative NANDA Nursing Diagnosis for impaired social interaction includes Alteration in Comfort, Alteration in Coping, Alteration in Thought Processes, Deficient Knowledge: Disease Process and Cross-Cultural Caring and Ethnocentric Caring.
- What are the NOC Outcomes for patients with impaired social interaction?
The NOC Outcomes for patients with impaired social interaction include Interpersonal Relationships, Coping Ability and Social Interaction. - What type of nursing activities are involved in treating impaired social interaction?
Nursing activities involved in treating impaired social interaction include patient monitoring, charting and data reporting, implementation of prescribed treatments, patient and family education regarding social interaction, valence and mood identification, creating a safe environment for interaction, recreational and leisure activities and other interventions as per medical prescription.