QUESTION: "A female client and her husband visiting the fertility clinic tell the nurse that they have been married for 4 years and have been unable to conceive. After complete physical examinations, the husband is found to have a mildly low sperm count. Based on the assessment data, which of the following would the nurse most likely identify as a priority nursing diagnosis for this couple?"
CHOICES
( O ) a.) Anticipatory grieving related to inability to conceive.
( X ) b.) Deficient knowledge related to fertility treatments.
( X ) c.) Ineffective family coping related to infertility.
( X ) d.) Anxiety related to decreased spermatogenesis.
RATIONALE: The diagnosis of infertility is a crisis for most couples. Often, the inability to conceive is viewed as a loss. Therefore, the priority nursing diagnosis is anticipatory grieving related to inability to conceive. The situation does not indicate how much knowledge about infertility treatments the couple may have. Plus, the couple has just found out about the infertility. Further information would be needed to arrive at this diagnosis. Although ineffective family coping may be a nursing diagnosis at some time for this couple, no evidence is presented in the situation to suggest it at this time. Although anxiety may be present, it is most likely related to the couple's concerns about infertility and treatment, not decreased spermatogenesis. NURSING PROCESS STEP: Analysis, nursing diagnosis CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Psychosocial integrity CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: None
