Which of the following are types of nursing diagnoses?

• A. Problem-focused diagnosis
• B. Risk diagnosis
• C. Health promotion
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Understanding the types of nursing diagnoses helps you categorize a patient’s needs for targeted care. There are three recognized types: problem-focused (actual) diagnoses describe a current health problem with identifiable symptoms or data; risk diagnoses identify a potential problem that could develop due to specific vulnerabilities or risk factors; and health promotion diagnoses focus on the patient’s readiness to improve health or adopt healthier behaviors. All three kinds are used in nursing practice to guide interventions, so the correct choice is all of the above. For example, actual pain represents a problem-focused diagnosis, risk for falls represents a risk diagnosis, and readiness for enhanced nutrition represents a health promotion diagnosis.