Theoretical basis for nursing diagnoses generated by graduate nursing students

The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the theoretical basis for nursing diagnoses generated by graduate nursing students. The sample consisted of 50 nursing diagnoses, with their corresponding theoretical basis, obtained from the graduate nursing comprehensive examinations (given over a 2-year time period). Ninety-nine diagnoses were evaluated before 50 acceptable nursing diagnoses were obtained. Twenty-two theories were used as the basis for the 50 diagnoses. A panel of three experts was used to determine if the diagnoses were theory-based.

The conclusion was made that the ability of graduate nursing students to write nursing diagnoses in an acceptable format remains limited. Additionally, it was concluded that graduate nursing students are not able, the majority of the time, to generate nursing diagnoses utilizing a theoretical basis for both the etiology and response components of the nursing diagnoses.