A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder spends 2 hours each morning checking and rechecking her home before leaving for work, then comes home on the lunch hour and spends more than an hour rechecking faucets, stove burners, appliances, window

Question

and door locks, and so forth. The checking continues after work and during the evening. The patient spends so much time in ritualistic behavior that grooming is poor and social activities are nonexistent. Which of the following nursing diagnoses should the nurse consider for this patient? Select all that apply. a. Ineffective role performance related to time spent in rituals
b. Impaired cognition related to obsessive-compulsive disorder
c. Ineffective coping as evidenced by use of compulsive behavior
d. Social isolation related to excessive use of time to perform rituals
e. Defensive coping relative to feelings of superiority to others
f. Self-care deficit related to excessive time spent in rituals

Answer 1

A, C, D, F
The patient demonstrates ineffective role performance, ineffective coping, social isolation related to time spent on rituals, and self-care deficits as seen in the problems she is having maintaining grooming and succeeding at work because of the extensive amount of time she spends managing anxiety in ritualistic behaviors. Those areas of concern represent appropriate potential nursing diagnoses. The patient is not reported to exhibit impaired cognition or feelings of superiority.