Perioperative nursing diagnoses. What, why, and how

Nursing diagnoses are important to perioperative nursing practice because they promote quality care and the growth of nursing as a profession. The development of nursing diagnoses is still in its infancy, and some perioperative patient problems cannot be delineated by the current list. For nursing diagnoses to be clinically useful to practicing nurses, they must be derived from data collected, compiled, and analyzed by practicing nurses. The North American Nursing Diagnosis Association has prepared guidelines for submitting diagnoses. A copy can be obtained by writing to NANDA, St Louis University School of Nursing, 3525 Caroline St, St Louis, MO 64104.