Question

The following nursing diagnoses all apply to one patient. As the nurse adds these diagnoses to the care plan, which diagnoses will not include defining characteristics?

1 Risk for aspiration
2 Acute confusion
3 Readiness for enhanced coping
4 Sedentary lifestyle

Answer 1

Risk for aspiration and Readiness for enhanced coping do not include defining characteristics since the first is a risk diagnosis without symptoms and the latter is a health promotion diagnosis indicating an area for potential improvement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Of the nursing diagnoses mentioned, 'Risk for aspiration' will not include defining characteristics because it is a 'risk diagnosis.' Unlike actual nursing diagnoses, which require defining characteristics to support the diagnosis, a risk diagnosis indicates that a patient is susceptible to the development of a problem but does not currently display any symptoms. The diagnoses of 'Acute confusion' and 'Sedentary lifestyle' will have defined characteristics that are observable and can be validated. For the diagnosis 'Readiness for enhanced coping,' it usually does not include defining characteristics because it is a health promotion diagnosis, implying that there is a potential for enhancement in coping.