Which statement correctly distinguishes an actual nursing diagnosis from a risk diagnosis?

Which statement correctly distinguishes an actual nursing diagnosis from a risk diagnosis?

• A. An actual diagnosis includes a NANDA label, contributing factors, and defining characteristics; a risk diagnosis indicates potential problems.
• B. An actual diagnosis lacks a label
• C. Risk diagnosis includes full defining characteristics
• D. Actual diagnosis is used only for healthy individuals

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how an actual nursing diagnosis differs from a risk diagnosis in current problems vs. potential problems. An actual nursing diagnosis reflects an existing problem and includes a NANDA-I label, the contributing factors (etiology), and defining characteristics (observable signs and symptoms) that support the diagnosis. A risk diagnosis, on the other hand, points to a potential problem and identifies risk factors, but it does not have defining characteristics because the problem has not yet manifested. So the best statement states that an actual diagnosis has the label, contributing factors, and defining characteristics, while a risk diagnosis indicates potential problems. The other options misstate these aspects—for example, an actual diagnosis does have a label, risk diagnoses do not include defining characteristics, and actual diagnoses are not limited to healthy individuals.

The key idea is how an actual nursing diagnosis differs from a risk diagnosis in current problems vs. potential problems. An actual nursing diagnosis reflects an existing problem and includes a NANDA-I label, the contributing factors (etiology), and defining characteristics (observable signs and symptoms) that support the diagnosis. A risk diagnosis, on the other hand, points to a potential problem and identifies risk factors, but it does not have defining characteristics because the problem has not yet manifested. So the best statement states that an actual diagnosis has the label, contributing factors, and defining characteristics, while a risk diagnosis indicates potential problems. The other options misstate these aspects—for example, an actual diagnosis does have a label, risk diagnoses do not include defining characteristics, and actual diagnoses are not limited to healthy individuals.