Nursing process and nursing diagnosis utilization in South Africa

A descriptive design was used to survey the use of nursing diagnosis and nursing process in programs of university-based nursing schools located in South Africa. Questionnaires, mailed to 16 South African university-based nursing schools, were completed by 18 South African nurse educators. Conclusions based on the findings were: nursing process and diagnoses are utilized in a country outside of the United States; American literature is utilized to learn about nursing diagnoses and nursing process in a country outside of the United States; and there is no standardized way of writing the nursing diagnostic statement in South Africa. The following implications were drawn from this study: the components of nursing diagnosis and nursing process should be standardized to increase the use of the concepts in nursing service and nursing education; and particular emphasis should be placed on forming a universally-acceptable operational definition of nursing process and nursing diagnosis.