Potential vs Risk for Diagnosis

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Is someone able to explain the difference between a "risk for" diagnosis and "potential for" dignosis...or is it simply just a difference in wording? I have one facilitator who uses potential for but all the readings I seem to have done all use risk for

Any advice appreciated.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

As far as I can tell, they're essentially equivalent phrases. If your facilitator uses "potential for" then use that with them. "Risk for" is the current phrasing, but either should work equally well, provided that you understand that both mean that while something hasn't happened, it very well could, given the right set of circumstances, as defined.

Thanks - that was what I thought but just wanted some reassurance!

Look in the definitive, authoritative, unassailable reference for evidence-based practice for nursing diagnosis, a book you should already have on your shelf even if your faculty didn't put it on the bookstore list: NANDA-I 2012-2014. The terminology there is what you use. No, I'm not gonna tell you. Amazon gives students free 2-day delivery. :)

your a tough nut to crack grntea..i like that and ALL you do!!....just a bit of humor to start my friday which is a very BUSY day!....

:roflmao:

Thank you. I do try.

:thankya:

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