Nursing diagnosis is the nurse’s clinical judgment about a patient’s response to actual or potential health conditions or needs.
Medical Diagnosis vs Nursing Diagnosis
| Medical Diagnosis… | Nursing Diagnosis… |
| points to a particular disease or medical condition | focuses on the patient’s needs |
| is based on the physiological or medical condition | focuses on the patient’s physiological and/or psychological response to changes in health |
| is also concerned with the aetiology of the disease | addresses potential problems |
Types of diagnosis include:
- Actual Diagnosis – diagnosis of the problem/s present at the time of patient assessment
- Potential Diagnosis – diagnosis of a potential problem which may arise from the patient’s actual diagnosis
- Health Promotion Diagnosis – diagnosis in relation to altered behaviours towards healthy living
NANDA’s Nursing Diagnoses
NANDA International, officially founded in 1982 and previously known as the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, is a professional organisation of nurses aiming to standardise nursing terminology.
The current structure of NANDA’s nursing diagnoses is referred to as Taxonomy II and has three levels: Domains (13), Classes (47) and Diagnoses (237) (Herdman & Kamitsuru, 2018).
Models of Nursing Care
- Activities of Daily Living
- Adaptation
- Self Care
- Goal Attainment
Activities of Daily Living
Roy’s Adaptation Model
Orem’s Theory of Self Care
King’s Goal Attainment Model
Nursing Diagnosis Care Plan – Based on the ADL
| Activities of Daily Living | Assessment | Diagnosis | Implementation | Evaluation |
| Maintaining a safe environment | ||||
| Communication | ||||
| Breathing | ||||
| Eating & Drinking | ||||
| Elimination | ||||
| Washing & Dressing | ||||
| Controlling Temperature | ||||
| Mobilisation | ||||
| Working & Playing | ||||
| Sexuality | ||||
| Sleeping | ||||
| Death | ||||
| Education | ||||
| Discharge |
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Claire Galea is the founder and director of Mariposa Holistic Care, providing personalised, holistic care services that prioritise individual needs, dignity and wellbeing.
With formal nursing education and extensive clinical training at the University of Malta, Claire brings a strong foundation in healthcare to her work. Passionate about health education, person-centred care and lifelong learning, she uses her blog Student Nurse Life to share knowledge, encourage reflection and inspire a more informed, compassionate and positive approach to health and everyday life.
With formal nursing education and extensive clinical training at the University of Malta, Claire brings a strong foundation in healthcare to her work. Passionate about health education, person-centred care and lifelong learning, she uses her blog Student Nurse Life to share knowledge, encourage reflection and inspire a more informed, compassionate and positive approach to health and everyday life.
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