7 Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Nursing Care Plans
Use this nursing care plan and management guide to help care for
patients with shingles. Enhance your understanding of
nursing assessment, interventions, goals, and nursing diagnosis, all
specifically tailored to address the unique needs of individuals facing
herpes zoster. This guide equips you with the necessary information to
provide effective and specialized care to patients dealing with shingles.
What is Herpes Zoster?
Herpes zoster, also called shingles, is an infectious condition caused
by varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes varicella
zoster (chickenpox). After a case of chickenpox run its course, the virus
lies dormant in the ganglia of the spinal nerve tracts. Then the virus
reactivates and travels along the peripheral nerves to the skin, where
the viruses multiply and produce painful vesicular eruptions. It is most
common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems.
Although VZV typically affects the trunk of the body, the virus may also
be noted on the buttocks or face. If an ophthalmic nerve is involved,
the client may potentially experience keratitis, ulceration, and possibly
blindness. Secondary infection resulting from scratching the lesions is
common.
An individual with an outbreak of VZV is infectious for the first 2 to 3
days after the eruption. The incubation period ranges from 7 to 21
days. The total course of the disease is 10 days to 5 weeks from onset
to full recovery. Some individuals may develop painful postherpetic
neuralgia long after the lesions heal.
Shingles is characterized initially by a burning, tingling, numbness, or
itchiness of the skin in the affected area. VZV infection can lead to
central nervous system (CNS) involvement; pneumonia develops in
about 15% of cases. Approximately 20% of people who have had
chickenpox will develop herpes zoster.
, Nursing Care Plans and Management
Major nursing goals for a client with herpes zoster (shingles) may
include increased understanding of the disease condition and
treatment regimen, relief of discomfort from the lesions, emphasis on
strict contact isolation, development of self-acceptance, and absence
of complications.
Nursing Problem Priorities
The following are the nursing priorities for patients with herpes zoster
(shingles):
Manage acute pain and discomfort.
Minimize complications and infections.
Promote healing and prevent scarring.
Educate patients on self-care measures.
Support emotional well-being.
Prevent transmission.
Provide follow-up care and monitoring.
Inadequate follow-up of instructions
Questioning members of healthcare team
Verbalizing inaccurate information
Nursing Assessment
Assess for the following subjective and objective data:
Alteration in muscle tone
Facial mask of pain
Reports of burning, dull, or sharp pain
Reports of pain localized to affected nerve
Inadequate follow-up of instructions
Questioning members of healthcare team
Verbalizing inaccurate information
Assess for factors related to the cause of herpes zoster
(shingles):
Nerve pain (most commonly cervical, lumbar, sacral, thoracic, or
ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve)
Complexity of treatment
Emotional state affecting learning
Nursing Care Plans
Use this nursing care plan and management guide to help care for
patients with shingles. Enhance your understanding of
nursing assessment, interventions, goals, and nursing diagnosis, all
specifically tailored to address the unique needs of individuals facing
herpes zoster. This guide equips you with the necessary information to
provide effective and specialized care to patients dealing with shingles.
What is Herpes Zoster?
Herpes zoster, also called shingles, is an infectious condition caused
by varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes varicella
zoster (chickenpox). After a case of chickenpox run its course, the virus
lies dormant in the ganglia of the spinal nerve tracts. Then the virus
reactivates and travels along the peripheral nerves to the skin, where
the viruses multiply and produce painful vesicular eruptions. It is most
common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems.
Although VZV typically affects the trunk of the body, the virus may also
be noted on the buttocks or face. If an ophthalmic nerve is involved,
the client may potentially experience keratitis, ulceration, and possibly
blindness. Secondary infection resulting from scratching the lesions is
common.
An individual with an outbreak of VZV is infectious for the first 2 to 3
days after the eruption. The incubation period ranges from 7 to 21
days. The total course of the disease is 10 days to 5 weeks from onset
to full recovery. Some individuals may develop painful postherpetic
neuralgia long after the lesions heal.
Shingles is characterized initially by a burning, tingling, numbness, or
itchiness of the skin in the affected area. VZV infection can lead to
central nervous system (CNS) involvement; pneumonia develops in
about 15% of cases. Approximately 20% of people who have had
chickenpox will develop herpes zoster.
, Nursing Care Plans and Management
Major nursing goals for a client with herpes zoster (shingles) may
include increased understanding of the disease condition and
treatment regimen, relief of discomfort from the lesions, emphasis on
strict contact isolation, development of self-acceptance, and absence
of complications.
Nursing Problem Priorities
The following are the nursing priorities for patients with herpes zoster
(shingles):
Manage acute pain and discomfort.
Minimize complications and infections.
Promote healing and prevent scarring.
Educate patients on self-care measures.
Support emotional well-being.
Prevent transmission.
Provide follow-up care and monitoring.
Inadequate follow-up of instructions
Questioning members of healthcare team
Verbalizing inaccurate information
Nursing Assessment
Assess for the following subjective and objective data:
Alteration in muscle tone
Facial mask of pain
Reports of burning, dull, or sharp pain
Reports of pain localized to affected nerve
Inadequate follow-up of instructions
Questioning members of healthcare team
Verbalizing inaccurate information
Assess for factors related to the cause of herpes zoster
(shingles):
Nerve pain (most commonly cervical, lumbar, sacral, thoracic, or
ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve)
Complexity of treatment
Emotional state affecting learning
