teaching {various topics} + nursing diagnosis

PedsNurse322 · Apr 4, 2007

How about: Knowledge (specify): Readiness for Enhanced

or

Knowledge, Deficient

HTH... Laurie

GingerSue · Apr 4, 2007

thanks

I suppose that some of these are written with the assumption that the patient doesn't know,

so first the patient's knowledge has to be assessed to determine if the person does or does not know

{that's why I didn't start with Knowledge Deficit}

and the reason why I didn't start with Readiness for enhanced learning - because it is me approaching the person to initiate this.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2007

Your textbooks are only giving you suggestions for nursing diagnoses. In an actual patient situation you can consider these suggestions for nursing diagnoses, but you are guided by the nursing process in writing a care plan. You really need to read more on the nursing process and how one arrives at the choice of a nursing diagnosis which seems to be something you are struggling with this week as this is the third thread I've seen you posting on nursing diagnoses now. You can find this information in a book on nursing diagnoses. Nursing diagnoses are always arrived at based upon the situation at hand and the problem that the patient has which is based upon your assessment of the situation. There are nursing interventions that can be included under just about any nursing diagnosis that can be classified as being interventions that educate the patient or caregiver. These interventions teach, educate, instruct or supervise them about their condition or procedures they need to learn to perform. The nursing diagnoses that are purely aimed at educating the patient have definitions and you need to consult a nursing diagnosis reference to learn what those definitions, related factors and defining characteristics are so that you understand the full meaning of each.

For example, the definition of Deficit Knowledge (specify) is "absence or deficiency of cognitive information related to a specific topic". With this diagnosis there is a lack of information and if you look at the related factors that NANDA has assigned to this diagnosis it becomes even clearer: cognitive limitation, information misinterpretation, lack of exposure, lack of interest in learning, lack of recall, unfamiliarity with information resources. The cause of the information deficit is due to the patient's inability to process information correctly, not being exposed to information in the first place, disinterest or an inability to know where to find information.

The definition of Health-Seeking Behaviors (specify) is "active seeking (by a person in stable health) of ways to alter personal health habits and/or the environment in order to move toward a higher level of health". This definition is clearly telling us that the patient is looking to improve their health and wants to change their personal health habits. This is very different from someone who is disinterested in learning or who has mental limits to learn. Do you see the difference between these two diagnoses?

Health-Seeking Behaviors (specify) is one of the wellness diagnoses and is usually used for a client who is in the healthcare system for prophylactic care. You would use it if the circumstances of the individual case is appropriate to use it.

Doenges and Moorhouse classify the nursing diagnoses into diagnostic divisions. The following nursing diagnoses are classified by them as being teaching/learning ones (ability to incorporate and use information to achieve healthy lifestyle/optimal wellness):

Risk for Delayed Development
Delayed Growth and Development
Risk for Disproportionate Growth
Readiness for Enhanced Knowledge (specify)
Noncompliance
Effective Therapeutic Regimen Management
Ineffective Community Therapeutic Regminen Management
Ineffective Family Therapeutic Regimen Management
Ineffective Therapeutic Regimen Management

NANDA classifies the nursing diagnoses differently. Deficient Knowledge and Readiness of Enhanced Knowledge are classified under Domain 5 (Perception/Cognition). All the others that are in the Doenges/Moorhouse list above are classified by NANDA into other groupings, or domains, none of which are specifically about teaching or learning.

The appropriate nursing diagnosis to use is ALWAYS the one that fits your abnormal data assessment of the situation--ALWAYS! You determine this by checking a nursing diagnosis reference to see if the definition of the diagnosis and any of the defining characteristics listed under specific nursing diagnoses you think might apply to the situation match up to any of your abnormal data assessment items. This is how you learn to use nursing diagnoses. There is no trick here. But, you have to use a reference because these things aren't going to enter your brain through air osmosis, believe me. If you want a slim pocket reference purchase a copy of NANDA-I Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions & Classification 2007-2008 published by NANDA International which is where I got most of the information I posted above except for the Doenges/Moorhouse list. Cost is about $25.

I hope that clarifies the question you had about this. If you are still not satisfied with this answer, please don't hesitate to say so. You are getting so close to understanding how the nursing process, care planning and nursing diagnosis is all connected that I can see your hand out waiting to be grabbed. I want to help you get to that finish line! You are almost there. . .you are asking intelligent questions that show that.

GingerSue · Apr 5, 2007

I've got six nursing diagnosis books already from the library

{to determine which ones are actually any help}

they are all a bit different, some are more helpful than others

and my manual with pages of lists and lists of these diagnoses

thanks for your time.