The identification and validation of nursing diagnoses that describe the phenomena of concern to nursing is a critical task. Methodological issues revolving around the conceptualization of nursing and the research approach have hampered this effort. This study used the human needs framework as a guide for the assessment and formulation of nursing diagnoses. A two-phase study was conducted. In Phase 1 five judges derived 51 nursing diagnoses using data from direct clinical observations of 50 subjects. In Phase 2 data from a second sample of 108 subjects were compared to Phase 1 data via computer analysis. Fifty of the 51 diagnoses were confirmed.