DISTURBED ENERGY FIELD
Disruption of the flow of energy surrounding a person’s being that
results in disharmony of body, mind, and/or spirit
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS
Perceptions of changes in patterns of energy flow, such as changes in
• Hearing (tones, words).
• Perception of movement (wave spike, tingling, dense, flowing).
• Temperature.
• Sight (image, color).
RELATED FACTORS
Factors secondary to the slowing or blocking of energy flows may
be as follows:
• Maturational (age-related devel-
• Situational (anxiety, fear, griev-
opmental crisis and/or develop-
mental [mental] difficulties)
ing, and pain)
• Treatment-related (chemother-
• Pathophysiologic (illness,
apy, immobility, labor & deliv-
injury, and pregnancy)
ery, perioperative experience)
ASSESSMENT FOCUS (Refer to comprehensive assessment parameters.)
• Behavior
• Emotional status
• Coping
• Sensation/perception
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The patient will
• Feel increasingly relaxed by slower and deeper breathing, skin
flushing in treated area, audible sighing, or verbal reports of feel-
ing more relaxed.
• Visualize images that relax him.
• Report feeling less tension or pain.
• Use self-healing techniques such as meditation, guided imagery,
yoga, and prayer.
SUGGESTED NOC OUTCOMES
Comfort Level; Health Beliefs; Personal Health Status; Personal
Well-Being; Spiritual Health
INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES
Determine: Assess how much support patient desires. Evaluate the
presence of a disorder that is life threatening or requires surgery.
Monitor levels of pain and disorders that may affect the senses.
Assess patient’s spiritual needs, including religious beliefs and affilia-
tion. Assessment of these areas will help to identify appropriate
interventions.
Perform: Implement measures to promote therapeutic healing. Place
your hands 4 to 6 above the patient’s body. Pass hands over the
entire skin surface to become intoned to the patient’s energy fields,
which is the flow of energy that surrounds the human being. Identify
121
areas where there is energy disturbance considering cues such as
cold, heat, tingling, and electric sensation. This technique helps you
become attuned to patient’s energy field, the flow of energy that sur-
rounds a person’s being.
Administer medication as ordered to relieve pain.
Turn and reposition patient at least every 2 hr. Establish a turning
schedule for the dependent patient. Post schedule at bedside and
monitor frequency. Turning and repositioning prevent skin
breakdown, improve lung expansion, and prevent atelectasis.
Provide comfort measures such as bathing, massage, regulation of
environmental temperature, and mouth care, according to the
patient’s preferences. Comfort measures done for and with the
patient reduce anxiety and promote feelings of well-being.
Inform: Teach self-healing techniques to both the patient and family
(e.g., meditation, guided imagery, yoga, and prayer). Teach patient
how to incorporate the use of self-healing techniques in carrying out
usual daily activities. It will take repeated use of strategies to induce
a spirit of well-being.
Teach caregivers to assist patient with self-care activities in a way
that maximizes his or her comfort. Caregivers may need assistance
with techniques. Lack of skill can cause the patient unnecessary
pain.
Attend: Encourage patient’s cooperation as you continue with heal-
ing techniques, such as therapeutic touch. Listen for evidence of
effectiveness of treatment by patient’s statements about reduction in
tension or pain. One treatment rarely restores a full sense of well-
being.
Manage: Refer to mental health specialist or other community agen-
cies as needed. It is important for patient to have ongoing support.
Refer to a member of the clergy or a spiritual counselor, accord-
ing to the patient’s preference, to show respect for the patient’s
beliefs and provide spiritual care.
SUGGESTED NIC INTERVENTIONS
Therapeutic Touch; Discharge Planning; Anxiety Reduction; Pain
Management
Reference
Robb, W. J. (2006, April–June). Self-healing: A concept analysis. Nursing
Forum, 41(2), 60–77.