Activity Intolerance (Pediatric Inpatient)
Clinical Description
- Care of the hospitalized child experiencing, or at risk for, insufficient physical or mental energy to complete required or desired daily activities or to sustain activities over time.
Key Information
- Clinical judgment must be used to determine if it is appropriate to increase activity or participate in exercise. Most children can benefit from some level of play, activity or exercise.
- Younger children’s natural enjoyment of play provides an opportunity to include tolerated activities into care.
Clinical Goals
By transition of care
A. The patient will achieve the following goals:
B. Patient, family or significant other will teach back or demonstrate education topics and points:
- Education: Overview
- Education: Self Management
- Education: When to Seek Medical Attention
Activity Intolerance
Signs/Symptoms/Presentation
- cyanosis
- diaphoresis
- dizziness
- dysrhythmia
- fatigue
- generalized weakness
- inability to perform BADLs (basic activities of daily living)
- inability to perform IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living)
- nausea
- pain increased during or after activity
- pallor
- shortness of breath during or after activity
- syncope
- visual disturbance
Vital Signs
- significant vital sign change with activity
Problem Intervention
Optimize Activity Tolerance
- Cluster, coordinate and organize care schedule honoring child’s home routine, preferences, priorities and tolerance.
- Pace and balance activity with periods of rest; allow for uninterrupted sleep.
- Support coping and manage anxiety to minimize energy expenditure (e.g., transitional objects from home, such as preferred toy or blanket; use of developmentally-appropriate activity and language).
- Encourage gradual increase of activity as patient condition improves.
- Monitor physiologic response to activity; adjust accordingly.
- Offer choices regarding activities and play.
- Provide range of motion actions (active, passive or assistive) per prescribed limitations.
- Promote nutrition intake to optimize energy.
- Determine need for assistive and adaptive equipment to facilitate activity.
- Activity Management
- Environmental Support
- Self-Care Promotion
Education
Overview
risk factors
signs/symptoms
When to Seek Medical Attention
General Education
admission, transition of care
orientation to care setting, routine
advance care planning
diagnostic tests/procedures
diet modification
opioid medication management
oral health
medication management
pain assessment process
safe medication disposal
tobacco use, smoke exposure
treatment plan
References
- (2018). Butcher, H. K.; Bulecheck, G. M.; Dochterman, J. M.; Wagner, C. M. (Eds.), Nursing interventions classifications (NIC). St. Louis: Elsevier. [Review Articles,Expert/Committee Opinion,Core Curriculum,Position Statements,Practice Bulletins]
- Case-Smith, J.; O'Brien, J. C. (2015). Occupational therapy for children and adolescents. St. Louis: Mosby, Elsevier. [Review Articles,Expert/Committee Opinion,Core Curriculum,Position Statements,Practice Bulletins]
- Haugen, N.; Galura, S. (2020). Ulrich and Canale's Nursing Care Planning Resource-E-Book: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, and Psychiatric-Mental Health. St. Louis: Saunders, Elsevier. [Review Articles,Expert/Committee Opinion,Core Curriculum,Position Statements,Practice Bulletins]
- Hockenberry, M. J.; Wilson, D.; Rodgers, C. C. (2019). Wong's nursing care of infants and children. St. Louis: Mosby, Elsevier. [Review Articles,Expert/Committee Opinion,Core Curriculum,Position Statements,Practice Bulletins]
- Nettina, S. M. (2019). Lippincott manual of nursing practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. [Review Articles,Expert/Committee Opinion,Core Curriculum,Position Statements,Practice Bulletins]
- Palisano, R. J.; Orlin, M. N.; Schreiber, J. (2017). Campbell's physical therapy for children. St. Louis: Elsevier. [Review Articles,Expert/Committee Opinion,Core Curriculum,Position Statements,Practice Bulletins]
- Pendleton, H. M.; Schultz-Krohn, W. (2018). Pedretti's occupational therapy: Practice skills for physical dysfunction. St. Louis: Elsevier. [Review Articles,Expert/Committee Opinion,Core Curriculum,Position Statements,Practice Bulletins]
Disclaimer
Clinical Practice Guidelines represent a consistent/standardized approach to the care of patients with specific diagnoses. Care should always be individualized by adding patient specific information to the Plan of Care.