The description of the individual’s actual or potential health needs which are amenable to nursing intervention. The focus of the nursing diagnosis is on the individual’s response to illness or other factors that may adversely affect the attainment or maintenance of wellness. These diagnostic acts are distinct from those of medical and dental diagnosis. To illustrate, the physician’s diagnosis may be “hypertension” (high blood pressure). Certain nursing diagnoses commonly are found for patients with hypertension; for example, “nutrition, alteration in, more than body requirements,” because obesity may aggravate hypertension. The nursing intervention would therefore include patient education to reduce intake of salt, fats, and sugar.
The patient problem identified by the nurse for nursing intervention by analysis of assessment findings in comparison with what is considered to be normal. Nurses, especially those involved in patient care, are in virtually constant need to make decisions and diagnoses based on their clinical experience and judgment. In many instances, that process dictates a course of action for the nurse that is of vital importance to the patient. As the nursing profession evolves and develops, nursing diagnosis will be defined and specified in accordance with the specialized training and experience of nurses, particularly for nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.