A diagnostic error can influence the application of the nursing care p

A diagnostic error can influence the application of the nursing care plan. A likely source for a nursing diagnosis error is if the nurse:

1. Validates the assessment information in the data base
2. Uses the NANDA International list of diagnoses as a primary source
3. Formulates a diagnosis too closely resembling a medical diagnosis
4. Distinguishes the nursing focus instead of other health care disciplines

ANSWER

ANS: 3
A nursing diagnosis should identify the client’s response, not the medical diagnosis. Because the medical diagnosis requires medical interventions, it is legally inadvisable to include it in the nurs-ing diagnosis. A nurse should validate assessment data for accuracy and understanding. Using the NANDA International list of diagnoses as a source helps to ensure accuracy. One purpose the nursing diagnosis serves is to distinguish the nurse’s role from that of the physician. Another purpose is to help nurses focus on the role of nursing in client care. Nursing diagnoses promote understanding between nurses regarding clients’ health problems.