Diseases: A Nursing Process Approach to Excellent Care, by Springhouse

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Also be alert for a previous history of overdose or a high tolerance to potentially addictive drugs. V. drug users may have a history of hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection because they often share dirty needles. Female drug users may report a history of amenorrhea. The psychiatric history of a patient who abuses drugs may reveal suggestive behavior patterns or the presence of known risk factors. For example, the patient may give a fictitious name and address, display a reluctance to discuss previous hospitalizations, or seek treatment at a medical facility across town rather than in his own neighborhood.

The patient will consume regular, nutritious meals. • The patient will engage in social interactions with others. • The patient will demonstrate adaptive coping behaviors. • The patient will acknowledge the effects of his condition on his usual roles and responsibilities. • The patient will join gradually in self-care and the decision-making process. • The patient's fluid balance will remain stable, with intake equal to or greater than output. • The patient will report feeling safe in hospital environment.

Another major goal is the development of social adaptive skills to help the patient function as normally as possible. Mentally retarded children require special education and training, ideally beginning in infancy. An individualized, effective education program can optimize the quality of life for even the profoundly retarded. The prognosis for people with mental retardation is related more to timing and aggressive treatment, personal motivation, training opportunities, and associated conditions than to the mental retardation itself.