Nursing Care Plan for Risk for Infection
Also searched as: infection
🎓 Educational example. Adapt to your patient and have your instructor review it. Not medical advice.
Vulnerability to invasion by pathogens due to compromised defenses (surgery, invasive lines, immunosuppression). Nursing care is preventive.
Build your own Risk for Infection care plan in minutes → the free Care Plan Builder walks you from assessment to evaluation and exports a clean PDF.
Assessment
- Subjective: reports of wound discomfort, malaise
- Objective: invasive devices present, surgical wound, elevated WBC, redness/warmth at a site
Nursing diagnoses
As evidenced by: surgical wound, IV/urinary catheter, altered immunity
Goals / expected outcomes
- The patient will remain free of signs of infection (no fever, normal WBC, clean wound) throughout the stay.
- The patient will describe hand-hygiene and wound-care measures before discharge.
Nursing interventions & rationale
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Perform hand hygiene and aseptic technique for all care and dressing changes. | Hand hygiene is the single most effective infection-prevention measure. |
| Monitor temperature, WBC, and all sites for redness, warmth, or drainage. | Early detection allows prompt treatment. |
| Assess the need for invasive devices daily and remove when no longer needed. | Fewer device-days means fewer device-related infections. |
| Teach the patient and family hand hygiene and wound care. | Empowers self-protection after discharge. |
Evaluation
- No fever or rising WBC
- Wound/sites remain clean
- Patient demonstrates hand hygiene
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Build a care plan free See Student plan — $6.99/monthNursing diagnoses used in Risk for Infection
Risk for Infection care plan: FAQ
What is the nursing diagnosis for Risk for Infection?
Common nursing diagnoses include: Risk for infection related to invasive procedures and impaired skin integrity. Choose the one your patient's assessment data supports.
What are nursing interventions for Risk for Infection?
Key interventions: Perform hand hygiene and aseptic technique for all care and dressing changes.; Monitor temperature, WBC, and all sites for redness, warmth, or drainage.; Assess the need for invasive devices daily and remove when no longer needed. — each paired with a rationale.
Can I use this care plan for my assignment?
Use it as a study example and starting draft. Always adapt it to your specific patient and have it reviewed by your instructor. This is an educational tool, not medical advice.
Last reviewed 2026-07. Educational content based on standard nursing practice; not medical advice and not affiliated with NANDA-I/NIC/NOC. Always follow your institution's protocols and your instructor's guidance.