The assessment of the applicability of the NCS to different areas of health care and types of medical assistance contributes significantly to the quality of nursing care.

Quality of life assessments in patients receiving treatment for substance dependence can serve as one predictor of response to treatment. This study aimed to identify determinants of quality of life in patients of a Psychosocial Care Center for alcohol and other drug users (CAPSad). The sample consisted of 77 patients with a diagnosis of substance dependence being treated at CAPSad for more than six months. Severity of substance dependence was assessed using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6), quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument-short version (WHOQOL-BREF), and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Data on CAPSad activities, psychiatric diagnoses, and medications used were collected from the medical records. Quality of life was significantly impaired in more severe cases of substance dependence and in those with more severe depressive symptoms. As for other variables, poorer quality of life was significantly associated with a greater number of years of education, unemployment, use of medications, and greater use of individual sessions with the reference professional. Linear regression analysis revealed depressive symptom severity to be an independent determinant of quality of life impairment, accounting for over 50% of the variation in physical and psychological domains. These results demonstrate the need to consider other factors, such as depressive symptoms and quality of life, in the treatment of substance dependence.

Educational interventions should be implemented that hone the ability to make accurate NDs in clinical nursing practice. Further studies are also needed to evaluate the accuracy of NDs elaborated by nurses in different clinical contexts.

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to conduct a content validation for the elements of the nursing diagnosis Impaired Memory and include aging as a related factor. METHOD. Fehring's (1987) model of diagnosis content validation was used, with the participation of 18 experts. FINDING. The definition, defining characteristics, and related factors of NANDA-I were evaluated by experts, as was the proposed related factor "aging." CONCLUSIONS. Elements of the NANDA-I diagnosis Impaired Memory and the proposed related factor of aging were validated in the Brazilian context. A clinical validation of this related factor will be necessary to build evidence for this relationship. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE. NANDA-I diagnoses should be tested and validated in the elderly, in order to take their specific needs into account, thus contributing to quality nursing care for these patients.

RESUMOTrata-se de relato de experiência cujo objetivo é o de relatar a aplicação do Mapa Conceitual como estratégia para desenvolver habilidades de pensamento crítico, na identifi cação dos diagnósticos de enfermagem prioritários numa situação clínica. Para tanto, apresenta-se o caso clínico fi ctício elaborado e o Mapa Conceitual construído com o auxílio do software Cmaps Tools. Concluiu-se que a utilização do Mapa Conceitual na identifi cação dos diagnósticos de enfermagem possibilitou o desenvolvimento de habilidades do pensamento crítico, devendo seu uso ser estimulado ao longo da formação acadêmica. Descritores: Enfermagem; Diagnóstico de Enfermagem; Educação em Enfermagem.ABSTRACT This is an experience report, aiming at describing the application of the Concept Map as a strategy to develop critical thinking skills in the identifi cation of priority nursing diagnoses in a clinical situation. An elaborated fi ctitious clinical case and the concept map, created by using the IHMC CmapTools computer program, are presented. It was concluded that the use of Concept Map to identify the nursing diagnoses led to the development of critical thinking skills; therefore, its use should be stimulated during the academic program. Key words: Nursing; Nursing diagnosis; Education in nursing. RESUMENTrata-se del relato de experiencia cuyo objetivo es relatar la aplicación del Mapa Conceptual, como estrategia para desarrollar habilidades del pensamiento crítico, en la identifi cación de los diagnósticos de enfermería prioritarios en una situación de clínica. Para tanto, se presenta uno caso clínico fi cticio y el Mapa Conceptual construido con auxilio del software Cmaps Tools. Se concluye que la utilización del Mapa Conceptual en la identifi cación de los diagnósticos de enfermería posibilita el desarrollo de habilidades del pensamiento crítico, debiendo ser estimulado su uso a lo largo de la formación académica. Palabras clave: Enfermería; Diagnóstico de enfermería; Educación en enfermería.