Nursing Diagnosis of Jaundice

Based on a few simple symptoms, a nurse should be able to diagnose jaundice in a patient. With a few advanced tests, the nurse can help determine the type and cause of the jaundice.

Yellowing Skin

• Jaundice is most easily identified by a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. The patient's complexion should be closely inspected for the yellow discolorations.

Liver Enlargement

• If jaundice is seen in the skin and/or eyes, the nurse should then recommend palpation of the liver and spleen to check for enlargement. Swelling or abdominal pain helps indicate the cause of the jaundice.

Laboratory Tests

• The nurse would also take a blood sample to help determine the actual cause of the jaundice. The blood sample would then be sent to the laboratory for testing.

Urine Test

• A urine sample is tested for the presence of bilirubin, which helps determine the cause and severity of the jaundice. The results of the urine test should be compared to the results of the blood tests.

Itching

• Patients with jaundice often complain of an insatiable itch in the skin. The itching is sometimes so severe that the patient may have trouble sleeping at night.