The student nurse is confused about the differences between a medical diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis. The nurse educator reviews a chart with key information about the medical diagnoses and nursing diagnoses

Question

Based on this information, what are facts about a medical diagnosis that the student nurse should identify to show comprehension of this critical information?
1 . Involves identification of the nursing care problem and planning care based on the diagnoses identified
2 . Identifies the disease a person has or is believed to have
3 . Physicians arrive at a medical diagnosis by studying the physiologic manifestations of the illness and establishing its cause and nature.
4 . Provides a basis for prognosis and medical treatment decisions
A) 1, 2, 3
B) 1, 2, 4
C) 1, 3, 4
D) 2, 3, 4

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
A medical diagnosis identifies the disease a person has or is believed to have. Physicians arrive at a medical diagnosis by studying the physiologic manifestations of the illness and establishing its cause and nature. A medical diagnosis provides a basis for prognosis (projected client outcome) and medical treatment decisions. Nursing diagnosis process involves identifying the nursing care problem and planning care based on the problems or diagnosis identified. Nursing diagnosis is not to be confused with medical diagnosis.