Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Stress of illness or trauma and need for diagnosis and treatment may quickly result in
sensory deprivation or overload,
with serious disturbances in visual, perceptual, cognitive or emotional
functioning.
I. SENSORY EXPERIENCE
sensory reception – process of receiving data about internal or external
environment through the senses
Necessary Conditions:
stimulus – agent, act, or other influence capable of initiating response by
nervous system
- receptor or sense organ must receive stimulus and convert it to nerve
impulse
- nerve impulse must be conducted along pathway to the brain
- particular area in brain must receive and translate
A. AROUSAL MECHANISM
- to receive stimuli and respond appropriately, brain must be alert or
aroused
A. DEVELOPMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
- different types of sensory stimulation are needed for growth
- appropriate stimulation includes soothing, holding, rocking, and
changes of position, singing and
being talked to, and changing pattern of light and shade
- for children, developmentally appropriate play develops muscles and
coordination, provides outlet for
surplus physical energy, develops communication skills, provides
sources of learning, acts as
stimulant to creativity, develops social skills, teaches sex roles,
provides outlet for release of
emotional energy, and develops self-insights
- sensory functioning tends to decline progressively throughout adulthood
as a result of aging or
chronic illnesses
B. CULTURE
- dictate amt of sensory stimulation considered normal
- male and female roles may be culturally defined
- ethnic norms, religious norms, income group norms, and norms of
subgroups influence amt of
stimulation and perception of meaningful
- sensory deprivation, sensory overload, and sleep deprivation are all
related to or affected by cultural
practices, values, and beliefs
- pt may find comfort in cultural and religious symbols of care and
healing that are absent in hospital
environment
D. STRESS
- increased stimulation during periods of low stress maintain cortical
arousal
- during high periods, multiple stressors overloading sensory
system, and decreased
stimulation is desired
- stress of physical illness, pain, hospitalization, testing, surgery, or
treatment may provide more
stimulation than can be processed and responded to
E. MEDICATIONS
- meds that alert or depress CNS may interfere with perception of stimuli
- may contribute to impairment of sensory functioning by decreasing
reception
2. RECEPTION – anything that may interfere with reception and any corrective
devices
- high risk pts include people with visual, auditory, or other sensory
impairments
- ex. “Please read my name tag (or print on a page)” “Repeat the
words that I’ll speak softly
close to ea. ear” “Close your eyes, stick out your tongue,
and tell me if what I place
on your tongue is sweet, sour, bitter, or salty”
V. PLANNING
- care focuses on:
• developmentally stimulating and safe environment
• exhibit level of arousal that enables brain to receive and
meaningfully organize patterns of
stimulation
• demonstrate intact functioning of senses
• maintain orientation to time, place, and person
• respond appropriately (verbally and nonverbally) while executing
self-care activities
- outcomes similar to the following
• report safe feeling and in control
• describe different types of meaningful stimuli present
• demonstrate (describe) appropriate self-care behaviors
• verbalize acceptance of sensory deficit
VI. IMPLEMENTING
- teach pts and significant others methods for stimulating senses,
appropriate self-care behaviors,
interacting therapeutically
- safety is always a special concern
- ensure environment is as free of danger as possible
V. EVALUATING
- evaluate plan’s effectiveness by observing for decrease in behavioral
manifestation of sensory
deprivation or overload
- working if pt who had begun to withdraw and spend most time
lying in bed with blank facial
expression appears more alert and begins to initiate
conversations and take interest
in personal care
- evaluate pt’s ability to interact appropriately and need for nursing care
vs. his/her ability to manage
care plan