INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord lesions constitute very serious events that occur mostly among young people. Providing care to these patients is a complex task because they are greatly dependent on nursing staff and require a very carefully designed plan of care. The purpose of this study was to contribute ways to design a quality plan of care to attend these patients. OBJECTIVES: To identify nursing diagnoses according to the NANDA for patients with spinal cord lesions from an Orthopedic and Trauma Unit, and to propose appropriate nursing interventions according to the NIC. METHODS: This study used a descriptive and prospective research design. The sample consisted of 10 patients with spinal cord lesions. Data were colleted from January, 2000 to July, 2002 using a specific assessment tool. Data analysis led the researchers to propose nursing diagnoses which were validated by two clinical nursing specialists. RESULTS: Fifteen prevalent nursing diagnoses were identified and 26 nursing interventions were proposed. CONCLUSION: The results can be used to assist nurse to provide quality care for patients with spinal cord lesions, so as to improve the patients independence.
Nursing diagnosis; Spinal injuries; Nursing care
