Nursing care
Fatigue nursing diagnosis: related factors, as-evidenced-by examples and interventions
Written and reviewed by Nicole Ramirez, BSN, RN, CMSRN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
The fatigue nursing diagnosis describes an ongoing, draining lack of energy that rest does not fully restore and that limits usual activity. Write it as fatigue related to a cause such as anemia, cancer treatment, depression or disturbed sleep, as evidenced by what the client reports and shows: constant tiredness, inability to keep up routines, poor concentration or more time in bed.
Related factors, evidence and matching interventions
NANDA-I is the source taxonomy for this label, and its definition is copyrighted, so it is described here in plain words. MedlinePlus separates fatigue, a lack of energy and motivation, from drowsiness, which is the urge to sleep. That difference shapes the assessment questions.
| Related factor | As evidenced by (examples) | Nursing intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anemia | Tired all day, short of breath and dizzy with small efforts, pale skin | Check hemoglobin trends, assist with first walks, report dizziness or fainting, pair activity with rest | Weakness, shortness of breath and dizziness are common anemia symptoms |
| Cancer and its treatment | Exhausted after little or no activity, sleep does not restore energy | Help the client rank tasks and do the most important ones when energy peaks, keep naps under an hour, encourage walking as allowed | Cancer fatigue is not fully relieved by rest, and short naps protect night sleep |
| Depression or grief | Low motivation, withdraws from activities, flat mood | Screen mood, report hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm, set one small daily goal | Depression and grief are listed causes of fatigue and need their own follow-up |
| Disturbed sleep in hospital | Woken repeatedly overnight, yawning, poor concentration by day | Cluster night care, reduce noise and light, keep a regular wake time | Inadequate sleep is a listed cause and is partly within nursing control |
| Medication effect | Tiredness began after a new sedative, antihistamine or blood pressure drug | Review the medication list with the pharmacist, report the timing to the prescriber | Several drug groups are known to cause fatigue |
MedlinePlus also lists heart failure, kidney and liver disease, thyroid problems, diabetes, infections and substance use. Choose the related factor the nurse can actually address or work around, not simply the medical diagnosis.
Writing fatigue as evidenced by
Hypothetical example: a 58-year-old in week four of chemotherapy says she sleeps nine hours and still wakes exhausted, has stopped cooking, and dozes on and off all day. Her hemoglobin has been drifting down. Statement: fatigue related to cancer treatment and anemia as evidenced by reports of unrelenting exhaustion despite sleep, inability to keep up household routines and increased time resting.
A measurable goal names a behavior: client will identify her three most important daily tasks and complete them during her best hours, with naps of under an hour, by the next clinic visit. NCI suggests a fatigue log, which gives the evaluation its data. Client will feel less tired cannot be measured.
Fatigue or activity intolerance: the common mix-up
Activity intolerance is tied to a specific effort: symptoms appear while walking or dressing and ease with rest, often with a heart rate or breathing response the nurse can measure. Fatigue is present whether or not the client does anything, and rest does not fix it. A client who is worn out before getting out of bed points toward fatigue.
Drowsiness is a different mistake. A client who keeps falling asleep after a new opioid or sedative has a safety problem, possibly oversedation, not a fatigue diagnosis. Check level of consciousness and breathing first, then report. MedlinePlus lists confusion, dizziness, blurred vision and very little urine as reasons for urgent care rather than a fatigue care plan.
When tiredness should prompt a report
Fatigue is a nursing diagnosis, but it can also be a symptom of something the provider must treat. MedlinePlus advises seeing a provider for unexplained fatigue that lasts, especially with fever, weight loss or mood change, and urgent care when thoughts of suicide appear. A sudden drop in energy with pale skin and a racing pulse may mean bleeding.
In those cases the nursing diagnosis waits while the cause is investigated. Energy conservation, sleep hygiene and gradual activity are the right tools for fatigue that is expected and understood, such as during cancer treatment, not for an unexplained change.
Sources and further reading
Fatigue: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Fatigue versus drowsiness, causes including anemia, depression, grief, sleep problems, chronic disease, infections, medications and substance use; self-care measures; urgent and routine reasons to seek care.
Fatigue and Cancer - Side Effects - NCI. Cancer fatigue not fully relieved by rest; doing important activities when energy is highest; naps under one hour; walking; keeping a fatigue log.
Anemia - Symptoms | NHLBI, NIH. Anemia symptoms including weakness, tiredness, pale skin, shortness of breath and dizziness; mild anemia may cause no symptoms.
The next step on this is the same as on everything else here: answer questions and read the rationales. Our basic care and comfort practice questions are the closest set to what this page covers.
One question from the basic care and comfort set
A nurse is preparing to feed a client who had a stroke and has mild dysphagia. Which action best reduces the risk of aspiration?
Rationale
Upright at 90 degrees with a chin tuck narrows the airway entrance and directs the bolus toward the esophagus — it is the single highest-yield positioning intervention for dysphagia. Thin liquids and straws move fastest and aspirate most easily, side-lying removes the gravity you want, and large bites overwhelm a swallow that is already impaired.
Answer: B
Common questions
What is the NANDA definition of fatigue?
NANDA-I wording is copyrighted. In plain terms, fatigue is an overwhelming, lasting lack of energy that reduces the ability to do usual physical and mental work and is not relieved fully by rest.
What is fatigue related to?
Common related factors are anemia, cancer and its treatment, depression or grief, disturbed sleep, chronic illness such as heart failure or kidney disease, pregnancy, and medications such as sedatives or antihistamines. Pick the one nursing care can address.
What are nursing interventions for fatigue?
Help the client rank tasks and do key ones when energy is highest, schedule rest without long daytime naps, encourage gentle walking as allowed, protect night sleep, keep a fatigue log, review medications, screen mood and report unexplained or sudden changes.