Nursing care plan for knowledge deficit related to pregnancy

Introduction

Pregnancy is a period with lots of changes, both physically and mentally. While the body undergoes changes, the individuals fear of the unknown, socioeconomic issues and lack of knowledge can create mental barriers in their education during pregnancy. Knowledge deficit can lead to frustration, anxiety, or depression. Therefore, early identification and appropriate nursing care plan will ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Assessment

Analysis of the background factors: The nurse should analyse the psychosocial and cultural backgrounds of the pregnant woman to understand her level of awareness about sexuality, reproductive health, contraception and associated issues.

Identifying the knowledge gaps: Every individual has different needs, so the nurse should discuss the patient’s curiosity and pre-conceived beliefs. Assessing the patient's literacy level through scales like Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA) helps the nurse to know the patient’s responses to general questions.

Nursing Diagnosis

Knowledge Deficit related to Pregnancy: The patient lack of knowledge can be identified when she shows lack of understanding of topics such as healthy nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, safety of drugs and symptoms of complications like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

Outcomes

Patient’s statement that provides evidence of learning: It is incredibly important to monitor the patient’s understanding of the acquired knowledge. When the patient explains the concepts intelligibly and applies them to her own life situation, it provides solid evidence of learning merit.

Interventions

Educate the patient: Explaining the required information by using friendly language and visuals such as pictures and videos can help the patient to understand the information better. Allowing the patient to ask questions and clarify doubts is essential for the patient’s full participation in the educational process.

Rationales

Creating materials: By creating informational pamphlets, brochures, leaflets or educational PDFs with detailed explanations, nurses can further educate the patient using visuals. Moreover, it encourages the patient to apply the knowledge acquired.

Evaluation

Retesting: Making use of assessment scales and retesting helps the nurses to evaluate the knowledge gained after the duration of the nursing care. Implementing methods such as audio and video recordings also assists in identifying the patient’s comprehension.

Conclusion

Proper planning and implementation of an appropriate nursing care plan for knowledge deficit related to pregnancy can improve the overall health of the patient and future outcomes. Moreover, it can be beneficial to intervene with providing relevant information to every pregnant woman experienced difficulty with childbirth education.

FAQs

• Does a pregnant woman need special nutrition during this period?
  Yes, pregnant women need special nutrition to ensure proper development of the baby. Therefore, it is necessary to include nutrient-rich foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy products and healthy fats, into their diet.
• Can exercises be done during pregnancy?
  Regular activities such as walking, swimming and stretching exercises are excellent choices as they do not strain the body too much. Yoga and Pilates are also great for pregnant women for relaxation and exercise.
• Is there any danger posed to the fetus if the mother smokes during pregnancy?
  Smoking during pregnancy can lead to long-term health risks, low birthweight, poor development of lungs and even premature delivery, therefore it is important that neither the mother nor anybody around the mother or father smoke throughout the pregnancy.
• What signs and symptoms might indicate a problem during pregnancy?
  The most common signs and symptoms of problems during pregnancy can be blurred vision, rapid weight gain, persistent dizziness, headache, abdominal pain and swelling or puffiness of face and hands.
• When should a pregnant woman contact her doctor?
  If a pregnant woman experiences any of the above mentioned signs or symptoms, she should not hesitate to contact her physician to make sure there is no underlying issue causing discomfort to the baby or mother.