Pediatric nursing diagnoses in light of the essential needs of children

Abstract

The objective of this research was to gather studies on the development of nursing diagnoses in pediatrics and to relate such diagnoses to the essential needs of children. A theoretical study was conducted based on a review of the literature found in the Cinahl, Embase and Bdenf databases and Pubmed webpage, along with a comparative analysis between the definitions and components of the selected diagnoses, and the contents of the essential needs of children. Ten diagnoses were identified in 17 articles on the development of pediatric nursing diagnoses. Most diagnoses were related to respiratory problems, in addition to pain and nutrition, which correspond to the essential need for safety and physical protection. The diagnoses focused on child development corresponded to the greatest number of essential needs of children. The conclusion is that safety and physical protection is the most frequently identified need in the selected diagnoses and the diagnoses of child development had a greater scope in responding to those needs.