[Nursing diagnoses in patients admitted by the orthopedic clinic in a surgical unit]

Descriptive and exploratory study conducted in a hospital school in Londrina, Paraná, with the objective of identifying the frequency of the main nursing diagnoses according to the North American Nursing Diagnoses Association in male patients admitted at an orthopedic ward. The sample consisted of 60 patients with an average age of 40.6 years. Data was collected through interview and physical examination. The diagnoses were interpreted based on defining characteristics, risk factors and situations. The average number of nursing diagnoses by patient was 11.5. The most frequent diagnoses were: Risk of infection, Skin integrity, Tissue integrity, Severe pain, Self-care deficit relating to bathing and basic hygiene, Impaired physical mobility, Lack of knowledge, Risk of peripheral neurovascular dysfunction. This study identified patients' needs of care and it helped to establish the relevance of different clinical focuses for orthopedic nursing.