Nursing diagnoses are a critical component of the nursing process, serving as the foundation for personalized patient care. They are clinical judgments about individual, family, or community experiences/responses to actual or potential health problems and life processes. Using standardized nursing languages like NANDA-I (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International) ensures clear communication among healthcare professionals and provides a framework for evidence-based practice.
This guide provides Sample Nursing Diagnosis Statements categorized by NANDA-I domains. Understanding these examples is essential for nursing students and practicing nurses to accurately identify patient needs and formulate effective care plans. These diagnoses are organized using NANDA-I’s domain classification, which helps to categorize patient needs into broader areas of health and function.
Understanding NANDA-I Domains and Sample Diagnoses
NANDA-I organizes nursing diagnoses into domains, representing different aspects of human functioning. This domain structure helps nurses to systematically assess patients and identify relevant diagnoses. Below is a table showcasing common NANDA-I diagnoses categorized by domain and class. This table is designed to provide a quick reference for various nursing diagnoses you might encounter in practice.
| Domain | Class & Nursing Diagnosis |
|---|---|
| Domain 1: Health Promotion | Class 1: Health Awareness – Sedentary lifestyle Class 2: Health Management – Frail elderly syndrome – Ineffective health maintenance |
| Domain 2: Nutrition | Class 1: Ingestion – Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements – Readiness for enhanced nutrition – Impaired swallowing Class 2: Digestion (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – No direct diagnoses listed Class 3: Absorption (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – No direct diagnoses listed Class 4: Metabolism – Risk for unstable blood glucose level Class 5: Hydration – Risk for electrolyte imbalance – Deficient fluid volume – Excess fluid volume – Risk for imbalanced fluid volume |
| Domain 3: Elimination and Exchange | Class 1: Urinary Function – Impaired urinary elimination – Functional urinary incontinence – Overflow urinary incontinence – Reflex urinary incontinence – Stress urinary incontinence – Urge urinary incontinence – Urinary retention Class 2: Gastrointestinal Function – Constipation – Risk for constipation – Diarrhea – Bowel incontinence Class 3: Respiratory Function – Impaired gas exchange Class 4: Integumentary Function (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – No direct diagnoses listed Class 5: Hepatic Function (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – No direct diagnoses listed |
| Domain 4: Activity/Rest | Class 1: Sleep/Rest – Insomnia – Disturbed sleep pattern Class 2: Activity/Exercise – Risk for disuse syndrome – Impaired bed mobility – Impaired physical mobility – Impaired wheelchair mobility – Impaired sitting – Impaired standing – Impaired transfer ability – Impaired walking Class 3: Energy Balance – Fatigue – Wandering Class 4: Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Responses – Activity intolerance – Ineffective breathing pattern – Decreased cardiac output – Ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion Class 5: Self-Care – Bathing self-care deficit – Dressing self-care deficit – Feeding self-care deficit – Toileting self-care deficit |
| Domain 5: Perception/Cognition | Class 1: Attention – Unilateral neglect Class 2: Orientation (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – Diagnoses related to orientation would fit here Class 3: Sensation/Perception (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – Diagnoses related to sensory perception would fit here Class 4: Cognition – Acute confusion – Chronic confusion – Deficient knowledge – Readiness for enhanced knowledge – Impaired memory Class 5: Communication – Readiness for enhanced communication – Impaired verbal communication |
| Domain 6: Self-Perception | Class 1: Self-Concept – Hopelessness – Readiness for enhanced self-concept Class 2: Self-Esteem – Chronic low self-esteem Class 3: Body Image – Disturbed body image |
| Domain 7: Role Relationship | Class 1: Caregiving Roles – Caregiver role strain – Risk for caregiver role strain Class 2: Family Relationships – Dysfunctional family processes Class 3: Role Performance – Impaired social interaction |
| Domain 8: Sexuality | Class 1: Sexual Reproduction (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – Diagnoses related to sexual reproduction would fit here Class 2: Sexual Function – Sexual dysfunction |
| Domain 9: Coping/Stress Tolerance | Class 1: Post-Trauma Responses – Risk for relocation stress syndrome Class 2: Coping Responses – Anxiety – Ineffective coping – Death anxiety – Fear – Grieving – Complicated grieving – Powerlessness Class 3: Neurobehavioral Stress – Risk for autonomic dysreflexia |
| Domain 10: Life Principles | Class 1: Values (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – Diagnoses related to values might fit here Class 2: Beliefs (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – Diagnoses related to beliefs might fit here Class 3: Value/Belief/Action Congruence – Readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being – Decisional conflict – Spiritual distress |
| Domain 11: Safety/Protection | Class 1: Infection – Risk for infection Class 2: 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 Class 3: Violence – Risk for suicide Class 4: Environmental Hazards – Risk for poisoning Class 5: Defensive Processes – Risk for allergy response Class 6: Thermoregulation – Hyperthermia – Hypothermia |
| Domain 12: Comfort | Class 1: Physical Comfort – Impaired comfort – Nausea – Acute pain – Chronic pain Class 2: Environmental Comfort (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – Diagnoses related to environmental comfort might fit here Class 3: Social Comfort – Risk for loneliness |
| Domain 13: Growth/Development | Class 1: Growth (Not explicitly listed in original, but implied) – Diagnoses related to growth might fit here Class 2: Development – Risk for delayed development |
This table provides a starting point for understanding sample nursing diagnosis statements. It is crucial to remember that this is not an exhaustive list, and the selection of appropriate nursing diagnoses should always be based on a comprehensive patient assessment and clinical judgment. Nursing students and professionals should utilize this resource in conjunction with detailed nursing care planning guides and NANDA-I resources for complete and accurate diagnosis and care plan development. Remember to always prioritize patient-centered care and tailor your diagnoses and interventions to meet their unique needs.
