Question

When asked to define Nursing Diagnosis the nurse's best response is:

1. It is the second step in the Nursing Process.
2. It is the process of defining a client's problems.
3. It correlates a client's problem with a condition a nurse is competent to treat.
4. It focuses care a licensed nurse can provide with the identified needs of a client.

Answer 1

A nursing diagnosis is the process of identifying and defining patient problems that nurses can manage within their scope of practice. It represents the second step in the Nursing Process and is integral to providing focused, competent care.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nursing diagnosis is a critical component of the nursing process. It involves the identification and prioritization of patient problems that nurses can address within their scope of practice. When defining a nursing diagnosis, it is best described as a process which:

1. Is the second step in the Nursing Process, following the assessment phase and preceding planning, implementation, and evaluation.
2. Entails the process of defining a client's problems, which requires analytical skills to distinguish between potential health issues.
3. Correlates a client's problems with conditions that a nurse is competent to treat, assisting in targeted and effective patient care.
4. Focuses care that a licensed nurse can provide, which is based on the identified needs of the client. This involves evaluating the patient within the constraints of the nurse's professional roles and responsibilities.