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6 Bipolar Disorders Nursing Care Plans

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By Paul Martin, BSN, R.N.
Bipolar Disorder Nursing Care Plans
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Bipolar disorders are mood disorders that comprise of one or more manic or hypomanic episode and usually one or more depressive episodes with periods of relatively normal functioning in between. They are said to be linked to biochemical imbalances in the brain and it is said that the disease is genetically transferred.

Nursing Care Plans

Clients with bipolar disorders are at a high risk for suicide. Although clients in the manic phase are briefly agitated, energized and elated, their underlying depression makes them likely to inflict self-injury.

Essential responsibilities of nurses are to provide a safe environment, to improve the self-esteem, to meet the physiologic needs and to guide patients toward socially appropriate behavior.

Here are six nursing care plans and nursing diagnosis for bipolar disorders:

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  1. Risk For Injury
  2. Risk For Violence: Self-Directed or Other Directed
  3. Impaired Social Interaction
  4. Ineffective Individual Coping
  5. Interrupted Family Processes
  6. Total Self-Care Deficit

1. Risk For Injury

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Risk For Injury

Nursing Diagnosis

  • Risk for Injury

Risk factors

  • Affective, cognitive, and psychomotor factors.
  • Biochemical/neurologic imbalances.
  • Exhaustion and dehydration.
  • Extreme hyperactivity/physical agitation.
  • Rage reaction.

Possibly evidenced by

  • Abrasions, bruises, cuts from running/falling into objects.
  • Extreme hyperactivity.
  • Impaired judgment (reality-testing, risk behavior).
  • Lack of fluid ingestion.
  • Lack of control over purposeless and potentially injurious movements.

Desired Outcomes

  • Patient will respond to the medication within the therapeutic levels.
  • Patient will sustain optimum health through medication management and therapeutic regimen.
  • Patient will have stable cardiac status while in the hospital.
  • Patient will drink 8 oz of fluid every hour throughout the day while on acutely manic stage.
  • Patient will remain free from falls and abrasions every day while in the hospital.
  • Patient will be free of dangerous levels of hyperactive motor behavior with the aid of medications and nursing interventions within the first 24 hours.
  • Patient will spend time with the nurse in a quiet environment three to four times a day between 7 am and 11 pm with the aid of nursing guidance.
  • Patient will take short voluntary rest periods during the day.
  • Patient will be free of excessive physical agitation and purposeless motor activity within 2 weeks.
  • Patient will be free of injury within 2 to 3 weeks:
    • Stable cardiac status.
    • Skin free of abrasions and scrapes.
    • Well dehydrated.
Nursing InterventionsRationale
Provide structured solitary activities with the assistance of a nurse or aide.Structure provides focus and security.
Provide frequent rest periods.Prevents exhaustion.
Provide frequent high-calorie fluids (e.g., fruit shake, milk).Prevents the risk of serious dehydration.
Maintain a low level of stimuli in client’s environment (e.g., loud noises, bright light, low-temperature ventilation).Helps minimize escalation of anxiety.
Acute mania might warrant the use of phenothiazines and seclusions to decrease any physical harm.Exhaustion and death result from dehydration, lack of sleep, and constant physical activity.
Observe for signs of lithium toxicity (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, muscle weakness, tremor, lack of coordination, blurred vision, or ringing in your ears).There is a small margin of safety between therapeutic and toxic doses.
Protect client from giving away money and possessions. Hold valuables in a hospital safe until rational judgment returns.Client’s “generosity” is a manic defense that is consistent with irrational, grandiose thinking.
Redirect violent behavior.Physical exercise can decrease tension and provide focus.
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1. Risk For Injury

Recommended Resources

Recommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources.

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See also

Other recommended site resources for this nursing care plan:

Other care plans for mental health and psychiatric nursing:

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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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