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5 Hospitalized Child Nursing Care Plans

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By Paul Martin, BSN, R.N.
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Whether it is a brief hospital admission, a follow-up check-up, surgery, or recurrent hospitalizations due to chronic illness, a child who is hospitalized creates a crisis within the family. Child’s responses to hospitalization are associated to the developmental level but usually include fear of separation, loss of control, injury, and pain.

The smoothness of transition from home to the hospital relies on how well the child has been prepared for it and how the child’s physical and emotional needs have been satisfied. Providing support to the family, supplying them with information, and empowering their participation in the child’s care adds to the adjustment and well-being of all concerned.

Nursing Care Plans

The major nursing care plan goals for a child who is hospitalized include increased ability to perform self-care activities, relief of anxiety, and an increased sense of power of family in making decisions and absence of injury.

Here are five (5) nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis (NDx) for hospitalized child:

  1. Self-Care Deficit
  2. Deficient Diversional Activity
  3. Anxiety
  4. Powerlessness
  5. Risk for Trauma

1. Self-Care Deficit

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Self-Care Deficit

Nursing Diagnosis

May be related to

  • Pain/discomfort
  • Inability to perform ADL

Possibly evidenced by

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  • Inability to wash body, take off or put on clothing, feed self
  • Inability to carry out toileting with use of bedpan or go to the bathroom
  • Required bed rest
  • Positioning or mechanical limitations
  • Fatigue, Weakness

Desired Outcomes

  • Child will attain maximum self-care capability with or without the use of aids.
Nursing Interventions Rationale
Assess physical tolerance and abilities to perform ADL, and play activities and restrictions imposed by the illness and medical protocol. Provides information about the amount of energy and effect of illness on activity level.
Provide personal care for the infant and small child; assist child and adjust times and methods to fit home routine. Provides needed assistance where using patterns and articles that encourage the parent to assist the child. Child is accustomed to using and doing.
Anticipate child’s needs for toileting, feeding, brushing teeth, bathing and other care if unable to manage on own; allow the child to do as much as possible. Prevents embarrassing experiences with toileting and maintains comfort with personal cleanliness and appearance.
Praise the child for participation in own
care according to age, developmental level, and energy.		 Promotes self-esteem and independence.
Balance activities with rest as needed; place needed articles and call light within reach if appropriate. Prevents fatigue by conserving energy and promoting rest.
Provide assistive aids or devices to
perform ADL, allow choices when possible.		 Assists child in performing self-care for ADL.
Encourage rest and quiet periods. Ensures proper rest and prevents fatigue.
Instruct parents to interpret child’s needs if the child is too young to talk. Provides anticipatory care for the child.
Provide instructions in bathing, hygiene, toileting, feeding, dressing while in hospital environment and inform of differences from home care and methods as needed. Promotes performance of ADL skills already known by child.
Encourage parents to assist the child in ADL but to allow the child as much  independence as condition permits; inform parents that a place is provided for their personal needs in order to allow them to remain with the child. Promotes independence and some control by the child without separating the child from parents.
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1. Self-Care Deficit

See Also

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Pediatric Nursing Care Plans

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Paul Martin, BSN, R.N.
Paul Martin is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing since 2007. Having worked as a medical-surgical nurse for five years, he handled different kinds of patients and learned how to provide individualized care to them. Now, his experiences working in the hospital is carried over to his writings to help aspiring students achieve their goals. He is currently working as a nursing instructor and have a particular interest in nursing management, emergency care, critical care, infection control, and public health. As a writer at Nurseslabs, his goal is to impart his clinical knowledge and skills to students and nurses helping them become the best version of themselves and ultimately make an impact in uplifting the nursing profession.

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