Nursing diagnoses meet specific criteria so they accurately reflect both the client's problem and the possible etiology involved. Which one of the following statements is an example of an appropriately written nursing diagnosis?
a. Acute pain related to left mastectomy
b. Impaired gas exchange related to altered blood gases
c. Anxiety related to uncertainty over surgery
d. Need for high-protein diet related to alteration in nutrition
C
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A A medical diagnosis should not be recorded as an etiology because nursing interventions cannot change the medical diagnosis. It would be appropriate to state: Acute pain related to impaired skin integrity secondary to mastectomy incision.
B The nursing diagnosis, Impaired gas exchange related to altered blood gases, is written incorrectly because it uses supportive data of the problem as an etiology.
C The nursing diagnosis, Anxiety related to uncertainty over surgery, is written correctly. It defines a problem and its possible cause; in this case, the problem is anxiety, and its possible cause is uncertainty over surgery. The nurse can provide detailed instructions on the surgical procedure, recovery process, and postoperative care activities.
D The nursing diagnosis, Need for high-protein diet related to alteration in nutrition, does not identify the problem and etiology. It identifies the client's goal rather than the problem. It could be reworded as: Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to inadequate protein intake.
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