Definition
Ø Is the 2nd step of the nursing process.
Ø the process of reasoning or the clinical act of identifying problems
Purpose
Ø To identify health care needs and prepare a Nursing Diagnosis.
Ø To diagnose in nursing
Ø It means to analyze assessment information and derive meaning from this analysis.
Nursing Diagnosis
Ø Is a statement of a client’s potential or actual health problem resulting from analysis of data.
Ø Is a statement of client’s potential or actual alterations/changes in his health status.
Ø A statement that describes a client’s actual or potential health problems that a nurse can identify and for which she can order nursing interventions to maintain the health status, to reduce, eliminate or prevent alterations/changes.
Ø Is the problem statement that the nurse makes regarding a client’s condition which she uses to communicate professionally.
Ø It uses the critical-thinking skills analysis and synthesis in order to identify client strengths & health problems that can be resolves/prevented by collaborative and independent nursing interventions.
o Analysis – separation into components or the breaking down of the whole into its parts.
o Synthesis – the putting together of parts into whole
Three Activities in Diagnosing:
1. Data Analysis
2. Problem Identification
3. Formulation of Nursing Diagnosis
Characteristics of Nursing Diagnosis
1. It states a clear and concise health problem.
2. It is derived from existing evidences about the client.
3. It is potentially amenable to nursing therapy.
4. It is the basis for planning and carrying out nursing care.
Components of A nursing diagnosis (PES or PE)
1. Problem statement/diagnostic label/definition = P
2. Etiology/related factors/causes = E
3. Defining characteristics/signs and symptoms = S
*Therefore may be written as 2-Part or a 3-Part statement.
Types of Nursing Diagnosis
Actual Nursing Diagnosis – a client problem that is present at the time of the nursing assessment. It is based on the presence of signs and symptoms.
Examples:
Ø Imbalanced Nutrition: Less than body requirements r/t decreased appetite nausea.
Ø Disturbed Sleep Pattern r/t cough, fever and pain.
Ø Constipation r/t long term use of laxative.
Ø Ineffective airway clearance r/t to viscous secretions
Potential Nursing diagnosis – one in which evidence about a health problem is incomplete or unclear therefore requires more data to support or reject it; or the causative factors are unknown but a problem is only considered possible to occur.
