Nursing Diagnosis Guide: Features and Specifications to Mind

Nursing Diagnosis Guide: Features and Specifications to Mind
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Written by Emily Harper Published on October 8, 2024

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Table of contents

What is a Nursing Diagnosis?

Medical students, qualified doctors, practitioners, and patients have heard a lot about the nursing diagnosis NANDA offers. However, it is indispensable to comprehend the notion and its specifications in order to take maximum advantage of it. 

Generally, a nursing diagnosis can be defined as a clinical statement or clinical judgment that is based on human response to health issues. It can be applied to a single patient, family, group, or even the whole community. Following the list of approved NANDA nursing diagnosis, nurses get a chance to choose the most appropriate and effective interventions that will lead to the desired results and eliminate health risks. 

In the overwhelming majority of instances, nursing diagnoses are based on the information collected during the assessment stage and give grounds to opt for the most influential care plan. The components of the diagnosis include the problem, its etiology, and risk factors. These aspects should be obligatorily taken into account to come up with a relevant and up-to-date diagnosis. 

Purposes of Nursing Diagnosis

As specified by the NANDA, a nursing diagnosis is a statement that should be based on a comprehensive assessment. An array of different aspects, including the current health state and condition estimation, should be taken into account, helping nurses and doctors view future care and therapy from an integral perspective. It is indispensable to mention instances when patients are at risk for nursing diagnosis that is irrelevant. Striving to avoid or minimize such cases, NANDA has compiled a list of medical conditions to consider while making any judgments. 

No matter if we are talking about community nursing diagnosis examples or individual cases, it is fundamental to emphasize that comprehensive nursing diagnoses result in the advanced patient’s safety and improved quality of provided treatment. There are advantages of the nursing diagnosis not only for nurses but also for patients. 

Generally, considering the purpose of the option, it is complicated to single out one aspect, as there are several goals of the nursing diagnoses, which:

  • Help define nursing priorities
  • Aid compiling the list of expected results for quality assurance specifications
  • Is used to understand the way a patient responds to the health-related issues 
  • Simplified communication between the nurses and healthcare staff
  • Simplifies the estimation process, which is aimed at determining the cost-efficiency of the nursing care

Three Different Diagnosis Concepts

NANDA diagnoses are the indispensable options that help to improve the performance, competence, and skills of nurses and let them make reasonable conclusions based on the symptoms, risks, and other factors. Considering the notion, it is indispensable to emphasize three basic diagnosis concepts that are critical to be recognized and differentiated. There are three main categories that should be taken into account including the nursing diagnoses, medical and collaborative. Irrespective of minor similarities, they should be viewed as different options with unique features and specifications. 

three nursing diagnosis concepts

Nursing Diagnosis

Nursing diagnosis is the broadest concept that embraces all three categories. Depending on the situation, its meanings can vary. In certain instances, it can be viewed as a second step in the overall nursing process, while in others, as the label that nurses put on the collected information. Striving to understand the notion better, it is indispensable to view numerous nursing diagnosis examples. One of the simplest but the most appealing is described below. 

After the nurse assesses the patient, he/she learns that the client is fearful and anxious, experiencing frequent sleep disorders. All these symptoms are called nursing diagnoses and are formulated as Panic Attacks, Anxiety, and Sleep Disorders. A nursing diagnosis here is based on the client’s perception of the medical issue. Thus, it can be recognized as a nursing diagnosis, as these statements do not give the specialist enough authority to take any precise actions to eliminate the symptoms of the ailments or fight their source. Consequently, it is possible to claim that nursing diagnosis is concentrated on care for the patient. 

Medical Diagnosis

Medical diagnosis, on the other hand, is made by a more professional and competent specialist, like a healthcare practitioner or a physician, and is aimed at learning more specific details of the medical state, disorder, and pathological condition. The list of nursing diagnosis provided by NANDA helps to deal with the medical problems, giving them proper names. Thus, chronic kidney disease, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other health problems can be properly defined and cured. 

While the health promotion nursing diagnosis and similar types of statements can be changed, medical diagnosis remains the same. The task of the nurses is to follow the orders given by health care specialists and carry out proper treatments. 

Collaborative Problems

Collaborative issues are the problems that may bother patients and require nursing and medical interventions. Nurses can deal with the potential problems using independent help and the recommendations offered by the physician. The objective of all the actions is to eliminate possible risks by monitoring the patient’s state and warning the symptoms of the ailment. 

NANDA Diagnosis International (NANDA-I)

Considering the notion of nursing diagnosis and its specifications, you will definitely come across the NANDA diagnosis list and some other options related to the organization. What is it, and why is this organization so important? NANDA stands for the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, which is responsible for defining, sharing, and integrating nursing diagnosis standards around the world. The history of the organization goes back to 1973, the year when the first conference devoted to nursing diagnoses was held. With the development and advancement of the sphere, NANDA has become an international team aimed at reviewing, defining, and analyzing the current diagnostic labels. 

If you browse the web, you will notice an extensive NANDA diagnosis list, which has been approved for clinical use.

Nanda Nursing Diagnosis List

Searching for the NANDA nursing diagnosis list, you may come across its different versions. Look through the information mentioned below to discover the most extensive and up-to-date nursing diagnosis list. 

  • Excess nutrient
  • Nutritional Deficiency
  • Risk of nutritional excess
  • Risk of infection
  • Hypothermia:
  • Hyperthermia
  • Acute Confusion
  • Ineffective Thermoregulation
  • Dysreflexia
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Fecal incontinence
  • Altered urinary elimination
  • Urinary Stress Incontinence
  • Urinary incontinence reflex
  • Functional Incontinence
  • Decreased tissue perfusion
  • Excess fluid volume
  • Fluid Volume Deficit
  • Decreased cardiac output
  • Disruption of gas exchange
  • Ineffective airway clearance
  • Intolerance cessation of assisted ventilation
  • Risk of accident
  • Risk of trauma
  • Risk of aspiration
  • Risk of immobility syndrome
  • Alteration of protective mechanisms
  • Damage to tissue integrity
  • Violation of the integrity of the oral mucosa
  • Disturbed body image
  • Obesity
  • Violation of the integrity of the skin
  • Risk of injury to the skin
  • Decreased intracranial adaptive capacity
  • Disruption of the energy field

Types of Nursing Diagnoses

Although there are different types of nursing diagnoses, when it comes to NANDA classification, the structure is accurate and precise. Four NANDA diagnoses are specified, including problem-focused, risk, health promotion, and syndrome. Each of them has its peculiarities, so they should be viewed separately, with due attention being paid to their characteristics. 

1.Problem-Focused

Also known as actual diagnosis, it is the conclusion made after the assessment of the patient’s problem. This type of diagnosis is based on the symptoms and signs of the specific health issue. Problem-focused diagnosis is the most common, as it is easy to identify. 

Talking about the diagnosis type, it is indispensable to mention its critical aspects, including the diagnosis, related factors, and characteristics that should be described. Additionally, it is crucial to mention that the problem-focused diagnosis should not be prioritized if compared to a risk diagnosis. 

Here are numerous examples of the problem-focused statement:

  • Ineffective breathing pattern
  • Impaired gas exchange
  • Anxiety
  • Functional constipation
  • Acute pain

2.Risk

A risk nursing diagnosis can be described as a medical judgment about a problem that does not exist yet, but the presence of vivid risk factors makes its development highly possible. Immediate medical intervention is necessary in order to prevent aggravation of the condition. Considering this type of diagnosis, you will not notice related factors. Risk factors are the only items that make certain individuals or groups more or less susceptible to the problem. Risk diagnostic labels and current risk factors are the basic components of the diagnosis. 

Check out sample risk diagnoses:

  • Risk of imbalanced fluid volume
  • Risk of injury
  • Risk of oral mucous disorders
  • Risk of infection

3.Health Promotion

Wellness or health promotion diagnosis is the third type, which is focused on the advancement of the patient’s wellbeing. The medical judgment may address a specific patient, family, or even community. There are two main components of the health promotion diagnosis, which include the diagnostic label and a one-part medical statement. Here are examples of the diagnosis to consider:

  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Readiness for an improved family coping
  • Readiness for better parenting

4.Syndrome

The last type of diagnosing refers to clinical judgment associated with the cluster of issues and nursing diagnoses that may appear due to certain nursing interventions to achieve outcomes or other events. They are formulated as a one-part statement and require nothing else except a diagnostic label. 

Examples of syndrome diagnosis include:

  • Chronic pain syndrome
  • Ineffective cerebral tissue perfusion
  • Frail elderly syndrome. 

How to Write a Nursing Diagnosis?

Nursing diagnosis creation is a complex process that presupposes numerous stages of work. First of all, the specialist should analyze the information and determine the patient’s health issues and potential risks. The moment the data is collected, it is possible to proceed with the diagnosis statement. According to the NANDA international recommendations, the diagnosis should be made in accordance with the template. This way, the diagnoses will be easy to comprehend and follow, as they will be accurate, consistent, and relevant. 

How to write a nursing diagnosis that meets the requirements? Take your time to learn various templates and define the one you can apply in the current situation. Then, follow the instructions and succeed with the task. Keep reading to find information about the three most common subtypes of nursing diagnosis statements and their peculiarities. 

PES Format

There are numerous ways to write a nursing diagnosis, and the Problem-Etiology-Symptoms format is one of the most popular ones. The PES format defines the problem, factors related to it, and their specifications. There are three subtypes of the diagnostic statement to use. 

One-Part Nursing Diagnosis Statement

The main specification of the one-part statements is the universally related factors. They are always focused on the achievement of improved wellness through a properly selected diagnosis. Consequently, this type of diagnosis statement is typical for health promotion nursing diagnoses and syndrome diagnoses. 

Two-Part Nursing Diagnosis Statement

The two-part nursing diagnosis statement consists of the diagnostic label and the risk factors. As the symptoms of the disorders do not still exist, this aspect is not included in the statement. In the overwhelming majority of instances, the notion is applied to the possible and risk nursing diagnosis. 

Three-Part Nursing Diagnosis Statement

This type of statement includes all the aspects presupposed by the PES format, including the diagnostic label, related factors, and symptoms. Problem-focused diagnosis is the best example of the PES format statement.

FAQ

1. What is a potential nursing diagnosis?

A potential health problem is an issue that has not occurred yet, but the patient is in a risk group. Thus, a potential nursing diagnosis is the statement of a possible disorder and its symptoms. For example, skin integrity issues may potentially be diagnosed in people with limited mobility.

2. What is the most common nursing diagnosis?

As specified in Nanda list, pain, constipation, body temperature issues, and risk of infection are the most common issues patients experience.

3. How do you prioritize nursing diagnosis?

Determination of immediate threats is one of the basic stages of nursing diagnosis. Then, the specialist should evaluate the overall condition of the patient and watch him/her systematically, making conclusions based on numerous perspectives.

4. Can a nurse give a diagnosis?

Registered nurses do not give medical diagnoses, but they can make nursing ones that identify a condition. Nurses state the patient’s problem and the signs of the condition.

5. What is a diagnosis APA paper?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) is the most commonly accepted and used classification of mental disorder diagnoses used by physicians and researchers.

6. What are the 4 types of diagnosis?

According to NANDA-I, the four types of nursing diagnoses include problem-focused, risk, health promotion, and syndrome diagnoses.

7. What are the 3 components of diagnosis?

The three components of a nursing diagnosis are the definition of the problem, its etiology, and defining characteristics or potential risk factors.

8. How to put a DSM diagnosis code in a paper?

You can put the DSM diagnosis code after the name in parentheses if you want to include a single disorder. For multiple conditions, list codes before the names of the disorders, starting each diagnosis on a new line.

9. How to cite the DSM in a paper?

According to the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual, the in-text citation for the DSM-5 would look like this: (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The reference list should include a corresponding entry: American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).

10. Are diagnoses capitalized?

According to the APA recommendations, diagnoses are not capitalized, i.e., lung cancer, diabetes mellitus. However, you should capitalize proper names if they are present within the diagnosis, such as Alzheimer's disease or Rett syndrome.