Nursing diagnosis: a comparison of nursing textbook approaches

In today's rapidly changing practice, nursing diagnosis is a central and imperative process within nursing practice. However, a review of literature reveals many ambiguities in the description and application of nursing diagnosis. This lack of understanding of how nursing diagnoses function is the reason that many clinical nurses and educators do not use nursing diagnoses as the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) originally intended. Consequently, breakdowns in communication and continuity of care occur at all levels within the health care system. The author discusses descriptions and integration of nursing diagnoses in eight major nursing texts which can be a reference in selecting an appropriate resource for learning.