What are three differences between medical diagnoses and nursing diagnoses - Essay Example

Between Medical and Nursing Diagnoses Introduction Nursing in its beginning was seen merely as supportive practice to medicine. However, as time passed, nursing developed into a separate and autonomous field, establishing its own paradigms and practices. It has created distinctions from the medical field, such as the emergence of nursing diagnosis as different from medical diagnosis. Although the medical model is dominant in health care, nursing continues to face challenges imposed by society.

Medical and Nursing Diagnoses A medical diagnosis is formulated by physicians to identify a client’s specific disease, whereas a nursing diagnosis is made by a nurse to note how he responses to the condition. Both diagnoses differ in terms of their purpose, goals, and therapeutic interventions. A medical diagnosis is made to provide basis for prognosis and medical treatment options (Rosdahl & Kowalski, 2008, p. 371), thus focusing on the client’s pathological condition. On the other hand, nursing diagnoses are patient-centered (Springhouse, 2008, p. 9), including other aspects rather than solely physiological.

As medical diagnoses manage certain pathology in determined manner, nursing diagnoses are individualized to clients basing on their specific needs despite having the same condition. In the dominance of the medical model in healthcare, nursing is sometimes seen by society as subordinate to medicine. However, there is a need for “society to ‘see’ nursing differently, as making a significant contribution.to the healthcare of the community” (Johns, 2009, pp. 32-33), therefore nursing is challenged to continuously enhance is practice as a caring profession.

Conclusion Although medicine and nursing are closely connected, they are distinct. This is exemplified by both medical and nursing diagnoses, where the former centers on the disease process, and the latter on the patient. Nursing as a caring profession is challenged to be seen by society as equal to medicine, rather than being its subordinate. It is therefore important that nursing and nurses continue to enhance the profession. References Johns, C. (2009). Becoming a reflective practitioner (3rd ed.). West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

Rosdahl, C. B., & Kowalski, M. T. (2008). Textbook of basic nursing (9th ed.). Walnut St., PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Springhouse. (2008). Nursing care planning made incredibly easy! Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.