In this study, the author (a) identifies and validates critical and supportive characteristics of the nursing diagnosis anxiety, and (b) differentiates the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis anxiety from the nursing diagnosis fear. The sample consisted of 233 nurses with a master's degree in psychiatric‐mental health nursing or medical‐surgical nursing. The study design followed the nurse validation model of Gordon and Sweeney (1979) as expanded by Fehring (1986, 1987). Following concept analyses of anxiety and fear, the author developed three instruments for rating characteristics as to how representative they were of fear or anxiety. Three critical defining characteristics were identified for anxiety and six critical defining characteristics were identified for fear. Nurses differentiated between the two diagnoses but also suggested the presence of a fear‐anxiety syndrome in some clients.

TOPIC. Research validation of nursing diagnoses. PURPOSE. To provide a historical review of processes and methodologies for research validation of nursing diagnoses and suggested directions for future nursing diagnosis research. SOURCES. Nursing diagnosis research methodologies and processes from the Invitational Conference on Research Methods for Validating Nursing Diagnoses, Nursing Diagnosis: The Journal of Nursing Language and Classification, and the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) conference proceedings for the first through the 12th conferences. CONCLUSIONS. Future nursing diagnosis research should include concept analysis, expert validation, clinical validation, instrument development, larger studies, powerful statistical analyses, replication and comparison of studies, and concerted efforts to support group research activities that target priority areas of research.

The nursing diagnosis fear is clarified through the technique of concept analysis. Uses of the concept of fear in prominent theories of human behavior and in nursing arc reviewed. Five critical attributes occurring in all cases of fear are identified—a model case, a related case, a contrary case, and an illegitimate case are presented. Antecedents lo fear are derived Cunsequences of fear are discussed and are related to nursing interventions. Empirical referents that demonstrate occurrence of the concept of fear are determined, classified, and related to critical attributes. This concept analysis provides an essential conceptual base for instrument development and clinical research on fear.

No abstract

Ongoing ezialiration of the use of nursing diagnoses at the clinical level is critical to the facilitation of further developinent and refinement of the language of nursing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identifi/ the status of utilization of nursing diagnosis in Illinois. A survey instrunzerzt zuas inailed to 239 Illinois hospitals 139 (58%) responded. Results included: 78% of the responding hospitals had iinpleineizted nursing diagnosis, with alnzost all (95%) irtilizing N A N D A terminology. Coinponeizts of continuing education efforts related to nursing diagnosis zoere identified by 75% of the hospitals.Ongoing monitoring of quality iinprozleinent methods was reported by 45% of the respondents. ?'he barriers to iinpleinentation cited most frequently included: limited ongoing education, lack of motivation to learn, or nurses' difficulties iiz adjusting to its use.