Accuracy of Defining Characteristics for Nursing Diagnoses Related to Patients with Respiratory Deterioration

Purpose To evaluate accuracy of defining characteristics (DCs) for impaired gas exchange (IGE), impaired spontaneous ventilation (ISV), and ineffective breathing pattern (IBP) in respiratory deterioration. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of medical records. The accuracy and predictive ability of DC or of clusters are calculated. Findings In this study, 391 records were evaluated. For IGE, DCs or clusters with higher efficiency were "hypercapnia" (78%), "somnolence" (74.4%), and "hypercapnia + tachycardia" (88%); for ISV, the cluster with higher efficiency was "increased heart rate +/- decrease in cooperation" (70.1%); and for IBP, no DC or cluster exceeded 70% efficiency. These were confirmed by logistic regression. Conclusion Few DCs had adequate efficiency for respiratory nursing diagnoses, while in some cases clusters accounted for higher efficiency. Implications for Nursing Practice Clusters of DC may be relevant for respiratory diagnoses.