Which is the best example of a nursing diagnosis quizlet? A deep dive into care plan perfection

September 23, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), an accurate nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about a patient's response to health conditions. While resources like Quizlet can offer quick examples, understanding which is the best example of a nursing diagnosis quizlet format requires a deeper grasp of its structure, components, and purpose in patient care.

Quick Summary

A textbook example of a nursing diagnosis follows the PES format: 'Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient report of pain level 8/10 and guarding behavior,' providing a problem, its cause, and supporting symptoms.

Key Points

PES is the gold standard: The Problem, Etiology, and Symptoms (PES) format is the best way to structure a problem-focused nursing diagnosis for clarity and accuracy [1].
Acute Pain is a classic example: The diagnosis of 'Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient's verbal report of 8/10 pain' is a perfect illustration of the PES framework in action [1].
Distinguish between medical and nursing diagnoses: A nursing diagnosis focuses on the patient's human response to a condition, not the medical condition itself, which is a common student mistake [1].
Not all diagnoses are PES: Be aware of other types like Risk, Health Promotion, and Syndrome diagnoses that have different formats [1, 2].
Prioritization is key: After formulating a diagnosis, prioritize based on frameworks like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to address the most urgent patient issues first [1].

Understanding the Foundational PES Framework

The most widely used format for problem-focused nursing diagnoses is the PES model, which includes the Problem, Etiology, and Symptoms [1]. The Problem is the diagnostic label, the Etiology identifies the probable cause, and the Symptoms are the evidence [1].

The Best Example Unpacked: 'Acute Pain'

A common and clear example using the PES format is related to 'Acute Pain' [1, 2]. A complete statement might be:

"Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient's verbal report of a pain scale rating of 8/10, facial grimacing, and guarding of the affected area." [1]

Why This Example is a Model

This example is effective because it uses a clear label, specifies the cause, and includes both subjective and objective data [1]. It represents a patient response that nursing interventions can address [1, 2].

Comparing Types of Nursing Diagnoses

Beyond problem-focused diagnoses, NANDA-I also defines Risk, Health Promotion, and Syndrome diagnoses [1, 2].

Table: Types of Nursing Diagnoses


Diagnosis Type	Definition	Format	Example
Problem-Focused	Exists at the time of assessment.	3-part (PES)	Acute Pain r/t surgical incision aeb pain rating 8/10.
Risk	Potential problem based on vulnerabilities.	2-part (Problem + Risk Factors)	Risk for Infection r/t compromised skin integrity.
Health Promotion	Motivation to increase well-being.	1-part (Label)	Readiness for Enhanced Knowledge.
Syndrome	Cluster of diagnoses occurring together.	1-part (Label)	Post-Trauma Syndrome.

Steps for Formulating Your Own Accurate Diagnosis

Formulating a diagnosis involves assessment, identifying problems, constructing the statement using the correct format (like PES), prioritizing, and validating with the patient [1].

Common Mistakes for Nursing Students to Avoid

It's important not to confuse nursing diagnoses with medical diagnoses [1]. Using standardized NANDA labels correctly and ensuring the problem and etiology are distinct are also crucial [1].

Conclusion

The best example of a nursing diagnosis, like the 'Acute Pain' scenario, follows the PES structure for problem-focused diagnoses, including a NANDA-I label, etiology, and evidence [1, 2]. Mastering this format is key for effective patient care [1]. More information on standardized nursing terminology can be found via {Link: NANDA International website https://nanda.org/publications-resources/publications/nanda-international-nursing-diagnoses/} [1].

Frequently Asked Questions

A medical diagnosis identifies a specific disease or pathology (e.g., pneumonia), while a nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about a patient's response to that condition or life process (e.g., Ineffective Airway Clearance related to increased mucus production) [1].

The three parts of a problem-focused nursing diagnosis are the Problem (the diagnostic label), the Etiology (the 'related to' factor), and the Symptoms (the 'as evidenced by' defining characteristics), often referred to as the PES format [1].

A classic example of a risk nursing diagnosis is 'Risk for Infection related to compromised skin integrity (e.g., surgical incision).' Since the problem hasn't occurred yet, it does not include 'as evidenced by' defining characteristics [1].

Choose the diagnosis that best fits the clustered assessment data you've collected. Avoid choosing a diagnosis based on a single symptom. Compare your patient's signs and symptoms to the official NANDA-I defining characteristics to ensure the best fit [1].

If a patient presents with multiple related problems, consider a syndrome diagnosis, or create separate, prioritized problem-focused diagnoses. Sometimes, a patient may have a collaborative problem that requires intervention from multiple healthcare team members [1].

The 'related to' (etiology) statement is crucial because it gives the diagnosis a specific focus. It directs the nurse toward the probable cause of the problem, which helps in planning targeted and effective nursing interventions [1].

The 'as evidenced by' (aeb) statement, or defining characteristics, provides the objective and subjective data that proves the nursing diagnosis is valid for that specific patient. It makes the diagnosis evidence-based and individualized [1].