A nursing diagnosis is a standardized statement about to the health of a client (individual, family, or community) for the purpose of providing nursing care. One organization for defining standard diagnoses is the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association now known as NANDA-International.

Structure of diagnoses

There are five types of nursing diagnoses in the NANDA system.

1. An actual diagnosis is a statement about a health problem that the client has, and could benefit from nursing care. An example of an actual nursing diagnosis is: Ineffective airway clearance related to decreased energy as manifested by an ineffective cough.
2. A risk diagnosis is a statement about a health problem that the client doesn't have yet, but is at a higher than normal risk of developing in the near future. An example of a risk diagnosis is: Risk for injury related to altered mobility and disorientation.
3. A possible diagnosis is a statement about a health problem that the client might have now, but the nurse doesn't yet have enough information to make an actual diagnosis. An example of a possible diagnosis is: Possible fluid volume deficit related to frequent vomiting for three days as manifested by increased pulse rate.
4. A syndrome diagnosis is used when a cluster of nursing diagnoses are often seen together. An example of a syndrome diagnosis is: Rape-trauma syndrome related to anxiety about potential health problems as manifested by anger, genitourinary discomfort, and sleep pattern disturbance.
5. A wellness diagnosis is used to describe an aspect of the client which is at a high level of wellness. An example of a wellness diagnosis is: Potential for enhanced organized infant behaviour, related to prematurity and as manifested by response to visual and auditory stimuli.

Sources

• Anderson, K. N. (Ed.) (1998). Appendix 19: Nursing Diagnoses. In Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary (5th ed.)(pp. 1975-2035). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. ISBN 0-8151-4800-3
• Perry, A. G., Potter, P. A. (2001). Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing (2nd ed.). Toronto, ON: Mosby. ISBN 0-9205-1340-9

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