Mentally Generating Possible Diagnoses

The meaning that nurses assign to cues noticed early in the diagnostic process can be understood only if there are possible and plausible explanations for the cues within the context of the situation. This is an active thinking process whereby the nurse explores knowledge in memory for possible explanations of data. Often, there are many possible diagnoses or explanations that may be considered. Sometimes, there is only one plausible meaning of cues noticed early in the diagnostic process, for example, if a woman who is newly admitted to a hospital unit for a surgical procedure is rapidly asking the nurse many questions, and exhibits a fast rate of breathing, the cues are not specific enough to consider only one possible diagnosis. The nurse in this instance would consider a number of possible explanations for this set of cues such as fear, anxiety, ineffective breathing pattern, and other. A nurse diagnostician avoids deciding on a diagnosis prematurely: before sufficient data to support a diagnostic judgment. Flexibility of thinking enables nurses to make a broad search of the mind for possible diagnoses. Logical reasoning in collaboration with the patient enables nurses to drive the most accurate diagnosis when the data are sufficient to do so.