Identification of nursing diagnoses and defining characteristics: Two research models

Abstract

Nursing diagnoses and their defining characteristics associated with one Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) were identified and validated. The clinical‐retrospective model and the nurse validation model were used to identify high‐volume nursing diagnoses associated with DRG 366, transurethral prostatectomy, and to validate related defining characteristics. For the clinical‐retrospective model, 34 patient records classified as DRG 366 were reviewed, nursing diagnoses and their associated defining characteristics were identified and retrospectively validated. The nurse‐validation model was implemented by assessing nine patients within DRG 366 over 22 shifts. Analysis using descriptive statistics demonstrated 80% level of agreement on five most frequently identified nursing diagnoses, but lack of agreement on the associated defining characteristics.