Which nursing diagnosis should receive the highest priority when caring for a patient who is receiving total parenteral nutrition?

Question

1. Infection, Risk for
2. Trauma, Risk for
3. Skin Integrity, Impaired
4. Fluid Volume, Risk for Imbalance

Answer 1

1
Rationale 1: The risk for infection is the greatest risk for the patient receiving parenteral nutrition due to the high glucose present, the central vein access route, and the declining nutritional status that the patient is in when this therapy is started.
Rationale 2: Avoiding trauma at the site or other parts of the body should be routinely done to "do no harm" and avoid injury where possible. However, this is not the greatest risk for the patient receiving parenteral nutrition.
Rationale 3: Skin integrity will be impaired due to poor nutritional intake, but preventive measures can be done to decrease the risk. This is not the greatest risk for the patient receiving parenteral nutrition.
Rationale 4: Fluid volume imbalances are minimized by accurate regulators to limit fluid overload or to run at the appropriate rate to provide the essential nutrition needed. This is not the greatest risk for the patient receiving parenteral nutrition.