Use of Nursing Diagnosis With Population Groups

Abstract

The authors report findings of a study done to examine the use of nursing diagnosis by community health nurses (n= 15) and students (n= 20) who worked with population groups. Results of the analysis of the open‐ended questionnaires and student assignments indicate that many of the diagnoses, both wellness and deficit, could be classified in relation to the concepts present in published classification systems. Issues raised by the study about the use of nursing diagnosis with population groups include: incorporating wellness diagnoses in the NANDA Taxonomy, identifying when a group diagnosis is appropriate, determining whether to give priority to a behavioral or an environmental focus, and selecting the level of abstraction.

Barriers to the Use of Nursing Diagnosis Language in Clinical Settings

“…These three studies offer contrasts in their findings in relation to the use and facility of nursing diagnosis as it is applied in the three settings. A fourth study by Neufeld and Harrison (1994) examined the use of nursing diagnoses by community health nurses and nursing students who worked with population groups. Results of this study indicated that many wellness and deficit diagnoses could be classified in relation to the current classification systems.…”

Integrating Nursing Diagnosis for Population Groups Within Community Health Nursing Practice

“…The emerging diagnoses and nursing interventions will differ from those of an individual occupational health nurse concerned with the health of a group of workers in one plant. The nurse concerned with a large geographical jurisdiction might formulate a diagnosis such as the one submitted by a community health nurse in the authors' earlier study (Neufeld & Harrison, 1994):…”

“…Nursing diagnoses are often confirmed by obtaining mformation from individual members of a group without consideration of group-appropriate methods of data collection (Neufeld & Harrison, 1994). Group-appropriate methods might include random sampling of employees in a large chemical plant for measurement of health status, use of epidemiological data pertinent to the group such as results of a national survey on effects of exposure to chemicals in similar industries, or other systematic methods such as review of accident reports (Neufeld & Harrison, 1991).…”

“…Some nurses hold the view that nursing diagnosis facilitates community health nursing practice because it offers a systematic description of the focus for nursing intervention (NANDA, 19904. Others argue that use of nursing diagnosis is unethical because it results in labelling groups inappropriately, particularly when the issue of concern is psychosocial, or the client group is from another culture (Mitchell, 1991). The authors' comments arise from reflection on the results of a previously reported survey of community health nurses and senior undergraduate students (Neufeld & Harrison, 1994). Important areas need to be considered when integrating nursing diagnosis for population groups within community health nursing practice.…”

Environmental Nursing Diagnoses for Aggregates and Community

“…To avoid inappropriate community nursing diagnoses, Neufeld and Harrison (1994) recommended using group-appropriate data-collection methods, including random sampling, and using epidemiologic data. Thorough environmental assessment and validation of diagnoses through multiple sources of data were recommended.…”