Student Nurses Community

NURSING CARE PLAN Hopelessness

ASSESSMENT

SUBJECTIVE:
I cant seem to
do anything, as
verbalized by the
patient

OBJECTIVE:
Decreased
appetite
Increased
sleep
Lack of
initiative
Lack of
involvement in
care
Passive

DIAGNOSIS

Hopelessness
related to
deteriorating
physiological
condition

INFERENCE

Terminal
illness/deterioratin
g physiologic
condition

Inability to reach
self-fulfilment
associated with
terminal state

Perception of being
flawed and
deficient

Depressogenic
thought patterns

Perception of
situation as
important,

PLANNING

After 1 week of
nursing
interventions,
patient will be
able to:
Participate in
care
Verbalize
feelings and
make
positive
statements
Maintains
appropriate
appetite for
age and
physical
health
Sleep
appropriate
amount of
time for age

INTERVENTION
S

Independent:
Monitor and
document
potential for
suicide.
Provide a safe
environment
so client
cannot harm
self.
Assess the
client for and
point out
reasons for
living.
Assess for
impaired
problemsolving ability
and
dysfunctional
attitude.

RATIONALE

EVALUATION

Hopelessness is
directly associated
with suicidal
behavior and also
with a variety of
other
dysfunctional
personal
characteristics.
Hopelessness is an
accurate indicator
of suicidal risk. A
safe environment
reassures the
client.

After 1 week of
nursing
interventions,
goal met.
Patient was
able to identify
feelings of
hopelessness
(regarding
present
situation),
demonstrate
more effective
communication
skills and
verbalizes
feelings,
participates in
different
activities such
as self-care,
and resume
appropriate
rest pattern as

Interventions that
increase the
awareness of
reasons for living
may decrease
hopelessness and
decrease risk for
suicide

Student Nurses Community

unchangeable,
lasting and
impacting many
areas of life/
Perception of
limited/or no
alternatives
regarding situation

Hopelessness

and physical
health

Evaluate client
by realistically
assessing the
predicament or
threat.
Determine
appropriate
approaches
based on the
underlying
condition or
situation that
is contributing
to feelings of
hopelessness.
Either
encourage a
positive mental
attitude
(discourage
negative
thoughts) or
brace client for
negative
outcomes
Assist client
with looking at
alternatives
and setting
goals that are
important to

Impaired problemsolving ability and

dysfunctional
attitude have
been shown to
correlate with
hopelessness
Understanding the
etiologic basis of
the client's
hopelessness is
important in order
to intervene
Truthful
information is
generally
preferred by
families; surprise
information
regarding a
change in status
may cause the
family to worry
that information is
being withheld
from them
(Johnson, Roberts,
1996). A person
awaiting a
transplant may
need to express

well as diet.

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him or her.
Spend one-onone time with
client. Use
empathy; try
to understand
what a client is
saying, and
communicate
this
understanding
to the client.
Encourage
expression of
feelings, and
acknowledge
acceptance of
them
Give client
time to initiate
interactions.
After an
appropriate
amount of time
is allowed,
approach client
in an accepting
and
nonjudgmental
manner.

only hope or
optimism, whereas
a person with an
injury with longterm effects, such
as a spinal-cord
injury, may need
to prepare for
possible negative
outcomes and
slow progress
Mutual goal
setting ensures
that goals are
attainable and
helps to restore a
cognitive-temporal
sense of hope
Experiencing
warmth, empathy,
genuineness, and
unconditional
positive regard
can inspire hope
Active listening is
a tool used by
nurses to enable
them to listen to
all ideas and
feelings without

Student Nurses Community

Review client's
strengths with
client. Have
client list own
strengths on a
note card and
carry this list
for future
reference.
Encourage
family and
significant
others to
express care,
hope, and love
for client.

judgment. Active
listening may help
clients to express
themselves
Clients who have
feelings of
hopelessness
need extra time to
initiate
relationships and
sometimes are not
able to.
Approaching the
client in an
unhurried,
nonjudgmental
manner allows the
client to feel
secure and
provides an
atmosphere
conducive to
venting fears and
asking questions
Having individual
worth affirmed
inspires hope.
Listing strengths
provides
reinforcement of
positive self-

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regard.
Helping the family
to provide client
reinforcement, to
understand the
client's feelings,
and to be
physically present
and involved in
care are strategies
that enable the
family to alter the
client's hope state