Which one of the following is an appropriate etiology for a nursing di

Which one of the following is an appropriate etiology for a nursing diagnosis?

1. Myocardial infarction
2. Cardiac catheterization
3. Abnormal blood gas levels
4. Increased airway secretions

ANSWER

ANS: 4
Increased airway secretions is a condition that responds to nursing interventions and therefore would be an appropriate etiology for a nursing diagnosis. Myocardial infarction would not be an appropriate etiology for a nursing diagnosis because it is a medical diagnosis. Nursing interven-tions will not alter the medical diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic procedure and would not be an appropriate etiology for a nursing diagnosis. Rather, the client’s response to the procedure would be the area of nursing concern. Abnormal blood gas levels would not be an appropriate etiology for a nursing diagnosis because it is not a causative factor, but rather it is a defining characteristic of a problem.