Difficulties Experienced in the use of North America Nursing Diagnosis International among Nursing Students in Selected Institutions in South West Nigeria

Objectives: The study examined the difficulties experienced in the use of NANDA-I diagnosis among nursing students.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire were used to collect data among purposively selected 120 nursing students. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (chi-square) statistics. P value was set at 0.05.

Results: The findings from the study showed that the most frequently used diagnostic label is deficient fluid volume (89.1%) which is in domain 2 (nutrition). Identified difficulties experienced were biennial changes of NANDA-I (78.3%) and insufficient information on the use of nursing diagnoses (71.7%). Majority (94.2%), believed that case discussion (92.5%) might enhance the formulation of accurate diagnostic label. There was a statistically significant difference between the difficulties experienced in the use of NANDA-I among the schools (p=0.058).

Conclusion: The study provided empirical information of difficulties experienced. Therefore, nursing students should be taught using case discussion in teaching nursing diagnosis.