List and discuss at least one (1) nursing intervention the RN would use to assist sensory impaired
individuals in meeting and achieving their needs at each of the three higher levels: Love and belonging
needs, Self-esteem needs, and Self-actualization needs.
Sensory Impairment
An individual experiencing sensory impairment may face quite a number of challenges
in life. With respect to higher level needs that are defined in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. A
visually challenged individual may find it harder to actualize these higher level needs. The
higher level needs that include self-actualization, self-esteem and love and belonging needs, are
among the particular needs that this paper will try to elaborate on how challenging they are to a
visually challenged individual to meet them.
Love and belonging is nature to most if not all human beings. These needs depict the
nature of the interpersonal relationships that are adopted by most humans. However, for a
visually challenged person. It may be quite difficult for them to find a sense of belonging in an
environment that does not favor him or her. Creating interpersonal relationships with people
without actually seeing their physical appearance will be the main issue to be dealt with.
Consequently, self-esteem needs are quite important in Maslow’s hierarchy. But for a
visually challenged person, attaining this needs may be a challenge. They may find it extremely
hard to gain confidence. It might be quite difficult for this particular individual to be able to
satisfy his or her desire to be valued by other people when he or she is visually challenged.
Lastly, self-actualization needs is on the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy. Self-
actualization entails five key things that are key to human beings. However, for visually
challenged individuals, to fully satisfy their self-actualization need may prove to be hard if the
person has not yet accepted the impairment condition that faces him or her.
MODULE 5 2
The nursing intervention that would be applied by a registered nurse may include the
following practices. First of all when meeting the patient, the nurse will have to make a good
first impression. Reason being first impression go a long way into helping visually impaired
patients feel cared for. This also helps in creating a healthy relationship between the two parties
(Treas & Wilkinson, 2013). Second of all, the nurse would help the patient meet their self-
esteem and self-actualization goals by helping then get to know the environment they are
staying in. This would help them feel confident by not requiring aid all the time to perform the
basic life activities from time to time.
Therefore, for a visually impaired individual, the attainment of the love and belonging,
self-esteem and self-actualization goals may be a cumbersome task. However, with the
application of the right nursing intervention by a registered nurse. The attainment of these
needs in the long run may be an overcome able situation.
MODULE 5 3
References
Treas, L. S., & Wilkinson, J. M. (2013). Basic nursing: concepts, skills, & reasoning. FA
Davis.