Nursing diagnosis: as a part of the nursing care process

This paper introduces some current criteria on Webster's (1974) Nursing Diagnosis (Dx) and that of Waechter-Blake which describe what the process of identifying the particular problems and needs of the patient are and assess the resources for helping decision-making. The differences between Medical Dx and Nursing Dx as different and at the same time similar elements that overlap and supplement each other are established. The usefulness of nursing diagnosis is pointed out since it identifies the needs and problems, achieves a shortened connection of information, as a future basis for research. The paper shows the process by which the nursing diagnosis is made, lists the nurse's skill when making the Nursing Dx and finally describes the difficulties in formulating the Nursing Dx.