NANDA-I 2024-2026 edition · Reviewed November 2, 2026 by the editorial team
What happens in seizures and where nursing comes in
During a seizure the person loses control of their body and sometimes consciousness: they can hit themselves, fall, or aspirate saliva or vomit. Afterward they are usually drowsy. Nursing keeps the patient safe during the seizure, maintains the airway, observes and documents, and teaches the patient and family.
What to assess
- Seizure type, duration, movements and postictal state.
- Airway, oxygen saturation and secretions after the seizure.
- Injuries: tongue biting, bumps and bruises.
- Adherence to antiseizure medication and triggers (sleep loss, alcohol, fever).
- Environment: side rails, bed height, hazardous objects.
- What the family knows about what to do during a seizure.
NANDA-I 2024-2026 nursing diagnoses for seizures
| Code | Diagnosis | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 00336 | Risk for physical injuryRisk · former code 00035 | Bumps and injuries during the seizure. |
| 00039 | Risk for aspirationRisk | Loss of consciousness and excess saliva or vomit. |
| 00031 | Ineffective airway clearanceProblem-focused | Secretions the patient cannot clear in the postictal phase. |
| 00303 | Risk for adult fallsRisk | Seizures without warning or postictal drowsiness in adults. |
| 00435 | Inadequate health knowledgeProblem-focused · former code 00126 | Does not know the triggers or why antiseizure medication must not be stopped. |
| 00400 | Excessive anxietyProblem-focused · former code 00146 | Intense worry about future seizures or stigma. |
How to prioritize them
During the seizure, safety and airway; afterward, preventing further seizures and teaching. Your assessment makes the final call: anything that threatens life (airway, breathing, circulation) comes first.
Sample nursing diagnosis statements
Risk for physical injury related to inadequate adherence to antiseizure medication, sleep deprivation and unadapted environment, in a patient with epilepsy (associated condition).
Risk for aspiration related to oral feeding without a swallow screen, unmodified fluid consistency and poor oral hygiene, in a patient with ischemic stroke (associated condition).
Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions and incisional pain with coughing as evidenced by a weak cough that does not clear secretions, bilateral basilar rhonchi and SpO2 of 91%.
Risk for adult falls related to dizziness on rising, inappropriate footwear and nighttime urinary urgency, in a 78-year-old patient on diuretics and antihypertensives (associated condition).
Inadequate Health Knowledge regarding insulin management related to information given in technical terms without supervised practice as evidenced by incorrect injection technique on return demonstration, inability to identify symptoms of hypoglycemia, and stating that they skip the dose when they do not eat.
Excessive Anxiety related to a major stressor (scheduled surgery) and inadequate knowledge of the procedure as evidenced by verbalized constant worry about the outcome, insomnia for two nights, and a resting heart rate of 110 bpm.
Fictional cases written by our team. Adapt them to your patient with the PES statement generator.
Nursing care plan summary
Main goals and interventions for the priority diagnoses. Each diagnosis page has the full plan, with rationales and a case study.
Risk for physical injury (00336)
Goals
- Patient remains free of bumps, wounds and tongue bites during the hospital stay.
- The environment meets the agreed safety measures at every shift check.
Interventions
- Keep the bed in the lowest position with brakes locked, and side rails up and padded if there is a seizure risk.
- Remove hard or sharp objects nearby and keep suction and oxygen at the bedside.
- During a seizure: stay with the patient, protect their head, do not restrain them, put nothing in their mouth and note the start time.
- Once the jerking phase ends, turn the patient on their side and monitor breathing, SpO2 and level of consciousness.
Risk for aspiration (00039)
Goals
- Patient remains free of choking episodes and signs of aspiration pneumonia throughout the hospital stay.
- Patient maintains baseline SpO2 during and after meals.
Interventions
- Keep the patient NPO until the swallow screen has been done.
- Perform or request the swallow screen per unit protocol and document the safe consistency.
- Seat the patient at 90° or as upright as possible for meals, with the chin slightly tucked.
- Offer small bites at a slow pace without distractions, and check that the mouth is empty before the next one.
Ineffective airway clearance (00031)
Goals
- Patient clears secretions with an effective cough within 24 hours.
- Rhonchi decrease on auscultation by day 2.
Interventions
- Auscultate lung fields every shift and before and after airway clearance techniques.
- Teach effective coughing: deep breath, hold, then two or three coughs.
- Encourage fluid intake unless restricted.
- Position the patient sitting or semi-sitting and reposition frequently.
Build the full care plan as a table with the generator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nursing diagnosis for seizures?
Risk for physical injury (00336) and Risk for aspiration (00039) are the most commonly used.
What happened to Risk for injury (00035)?
In 2024-2026 the equivalent diagnosis is Risk for physical injury (00336).
Should you put something in the mouth during a seizure?
No. Protect the head, move hazardous objects away and, once the seizure ends, turn the person on their side.
Other conditions
Study material: the diagnosis selection, sample statements and care plans were written by our editorial team using the NANDA-I 2024-2026 classification. They do not replace clinical judgment or your facility's protocols.
Classification sources: NANDA-I 2024-2026, Thieme supplement · Elsevier summary of changes. Reviewed November 2, 2026.