Nursing diagnoses of patients admitted for Infectious Diseases

Objectives: To identify nursing diagnoses of admitted patients into a Unit of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (ID) at a university hospital; and to analyze: the denomination, the related factors and the diagnoses' defining characteristics and its compatibility with the NANDA Taxonomy 2008. Methods: It was a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study, covering 50 medical records of patients admitted in July 2008. The diagnoses were compared to those proposed by the NANDA Taxonomy 2008. Results: Were found 105 real diagnoses and 18 of risk; 12 diagnoses (10%) corresponded fully with the Nanda taxonomy. The more frequently denominations were "Risk of infection"(100%) and "Anxiety"(32%). In the real diagnosis the denominations, the related factors and the defining characteristics, were in accordance with Nanda taxonomy in 76%, 27% and 23% respectively; in the diagnosis of risk the denominations and risk factors were adequate in 83% and 72%. Conclusions: The main difficulty encountered during the construction of nursing diagnoses was the appropriate choice of related factors and defining characteristics. The authors suggest discussion of concepts and review the practice adopted in the unit.