Nursing diagnoses are a critical part of the nursing process, providing a standardized way to identify patient problems and guide care. NANDA International (NANDA-I) is the leading organization for developing and approving standardized nursing terminology. Utilizing Approved Nanda Nursing Diagnosis in practice ensures clear communication among healthcare professionals, promotes evidence-based care, and ultimately improves patient outcomes. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of commonly used approved NANDA nursing diagnoses, categorized by domain, to help nursing students and professionals effectively plan and deliver patient care.
The following table presents sample approved NANDA nursing diagnoses organized by NANDA-I domains. These domains represent broad areas of human functioning and provide a framework for clustering assessment data and selecting appropriate diagnoses. Using this organized approach, often incorporating frameworks like Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns, allows nurses to systematically analyze patient needs and formulate accurate diagnoses. For in-depth information and further examples, consulting a comprehensive nursing care planning resource is always recommended.
| Domain | Class & Nursing Diagnosis |
|---|---|
| Health Promotion | Health Awareness – Sedentary lifestyle Health Management – Frail elderly syndrome – Ineffective health maintenance |
| Nutrition | Ingestion – Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements – Readiness for enhanced nutrition – Impaired swallowing Metabolism – Risk for unstable blood glucose level Hydration – Risk for electrolyte imbalance – Deficient fluid volume – Excess fluid volume – Risk for imbalanced fluid volume |
| Elimination and Exchange | Urinary function – Impaired urinary elimination – Functional urinary incontinence – Overflow urinary incontinence – Reflex urinary incontinence – Stress urinary incontinence – Urge urinary incontinence – Urinary retention Gastrointestinal function – Constipation – Risk for constipation – Diarrhea – Bowel incontinence Respiratory function – Impaired gas exchange |
| Activity/Rest | Sleep/Rest – Insomnia – Disturbed sleep pattern Activity/Rest – Risk for disuse syndrome – Impaired bed mobility – Impaired physical mobility – Impaired wheelchair mobility – Impaired sitting – Impaired standing – Impaired transfer ability – Impaired walking Energy balance – Fatigue – Wandering Cardiovascular/Pulmonary responses – Activity intolerance – Ineffective breathing pattern – Decreased cardiac output – Ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion Self-care – Bathing self-care deficit – Dressing self-care deficit – Feeding self-care deficit – Toileting self-care deficit |
| Perception/Cognition | Attention – Unilateral neglect Cognition – Acute confusion – Chronic confusion – Deficient knowledge – Readiness for enhanced knowledge – Impaired memory Communication – Readiness for enhanced communication – Impaired verbal communication |
| Self-Perception | Self-concept – Hopelessness – Readiness for enhanced self-concept Self-esteemd – Chronic low self-esteem Body image – Disturbed body image |
| Role Relationship | Caregiving roles – Caregiver role strain – Risk for caregiver role strain Family relationships – Dysfunctional family processes Role performance – Impaired social interaction |
| Sexuality | Sexual function – Sexual dysfunction |
| Coping/Stress Tolerance | Post-trauma responses – Risk for relocation stress syndrome Coping responses – Anxiety – Ineffective coping – Death anxiety – Fear – Grieving – Complicated grieving – Powerlessness Neurobehavioral stress – Risk for autonomic dysreflexia |
| Life Principles | – Readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being – Decisional conflict – Spiritual distress |
| Safety/Protection | Infection – Risk for infection Physical injury – Ineffective airway clearance – Risk for aspiration – Risk for bleeding – Risk for falls – Risk for injury – Impaired dentition – Risk for pressure ulcer – Impaired skin integrity – Impaired tissue integrity Violence – Risk for suicide Environmental hazards – Risk for poisoning Defensive processes – Risk for allergy response Thermoregulation – Hyperthermia – Hypothermia |
| Comfort | Physical comfort – Impaired comfort – Nausea – Acute pain – Chronic pain Social comfort – Risk for loneliness |
| Growth/Development | – Risk for delayed development |
Understanding NANDA-I Domains
The NANDA-I domains offer a structured way to categorize patient needs. Here’s a brief overview of each domain to further your understanding of approved NANDA nursing diagnosis:
- Health Promotion: This domain focuses on diagnoses related to the patient’s awareness of well-being and strategies to maintain or enhance control of their health.
- Nutrition: Diagnoses in this domain address activities and processes related to taking in, assimilating, and using nutrients for tissue maintenance, growth, and repair.
- Elimination and Exchange: This domain concerns diagnoses related to secretion and excretion of waste products from the body.
- Activity/Rest: Diagnoses here involve activities of daily living, exercise, sleep, and rest. It encompasses energy expenditure and restorative activities.
- Perception/Cognition: This domain focuses on sensory and cognitive processes, including attention, memory, sensation, perception, and communication.
- Self-Perception: Diagnoses in this domain relate to the patient’s awareness of self, including body image, self-esteem, and personal identity.
- Role Relationship: This domain addresses the connections and associations between persons or groups and the means by which those connections are demonstrated.
- Sexuality: Diagnoses in this domain concern sexual identity, sexual function, and reproduction.
- Coping/Stress Tolerance: This domain addresses the patient’s ability to manage life stressors and their physiological and psychological responses.
- Life Principles: Diagnoses here relate to values, beliefs, and spirituality that guide decisions and conduct throughout life.
- Safety/Protection: This domain focuses on being free from danger, physical injury, or immune system damage; preservation from loss; and safety and security.
- Comfort: Diagnoses in this domain address the sense of mental, physical, and social well-being or ease; freedom from pain or discomfort.
- Growth/Development: This domain concerns diagnoses related to age-appropriate increases in physical dimensions, maturation of organ systems, and progression through developmental milestones.
Conclusion
This table of approved NANDA nursing diagnoses serves as a valuable starting point for nursing students and practicing nurses. By understanding these diagnoses and their categorization within NANDA-I domains, nurses can enhance their diagnostic reasoning skills and develop effective care plans. Remember to always consult comprehensive nursing diagnosis resources for detailed definitions, defining characteristics, and related factors for each approved NANDA nursing diagnosis to ensure accurate and patient-centered care.
