The client has just learned that his motorcycle accident has resulted

The client has just learned that his motorcycle accident has resulted in his left leg being ampu-tated. When helping this client form goals and strategies for realistic goals, the nurse needs to assess the client’s:

1. Ideal and perceived self-concept
2. Intellectual and spiritual strengths
3. Involvement with significant others
4. Interests and past accomplishments

ANSWER

ANS: 1
What individuals think and how they feel about themselves affects the way in which they care for themselves. A physical change in the body, such as an amputation, can lead to an altered body image affecting identity and self-esteem. The nurse should assess the client’s ideal and perceived self-concept in order to help the client establish realistic goals and implementation strategies. Intellectual and spiritual strengths may be important when determining a client’s abil-ity to cope. However, when developing goals and implementation strategies, the process is going to begin with the client’s perception of self-concept, because this will greatly impact his response to the amputation. When assessing coping behaviors of an individual, involvement with signifi-cant others may be an indication of available resources as well as a source of strength for a client. Assessing a client’s interests and past accomplishments may provide information regarding a cli-ent’s identity. Identity is only one component of self-concept. The nurse needs to determine the client’s ideal and perceived self-concept in order to get “the big picture” as this will greatly im-pact his response to the amputation.