Validating Diagnoses

As human behavior is complex and nurses cannot truly “know” what other people are experiencing (Munhall, 1993), it is important for nurses’ thinking and technical processes to be accompanied by collaborative processes with consumers and the other providers. In most instances, nurses should decide on diagnoses with health care consumers; a nurse may say, “From the information you have just given me, it seems that you are experiencing Fear associated with surgery. Is that correct?” Based on the patient’s response, the nurse validates or rejects the diagnosis. In cases when patients are unable to collaborate with nurses because they are too sick, developmentally unable, or mentally incompetent, nurse can validate diagnoses with family members or other providers; a nurse may say, “From the information you have given me about your son, it seems that he having difficulty coping with the stress of the illness. Is that correct?” To validate with another provider, a nurse may say, “From my physical examination, I concluded that Mary’s airway clearance is impaired. Do you agree?” Validation of diagnoses with others helps to ensure the accuracy of diagnoses as the bases for subsequent stages of the nursing process. To save the time, energy, and costs associated with interventions for diagnoses, diagnoses should be validated as highly accurate.