What is the purpose of a nursing diagnosis?

The purpose of a nursing diagnosis is centered on identifying patient needs and guiding nursing care interventions. Nursing diagnoses are a key component of the nursing process, which involves assessing a patient's condition, formulating a diagnosis based on that assessment, planning care tailored to individual needs, implementing interventions, and evaluating outcomes. By identifying specific patient needs, nurses can develop targeted care plans that address physical, emotional, and psychosocial challenges, ultimately promoting better patient outcomes and ensuring that care is both comprehensive and effective.

In contrast, while medication prescriptions and documentation of hospital admissions are important aspects of overall patient care, they do not represent the primary focus of nursing diagnoses. Additionally, establishing communication with other healthcare providers is essential in nursing practice, but it is a means to facilitate care rather than the fundamental purpose of a nursing diagnosis itself. Thus, the correct answer aligns closely with the role and function of nursing diagnoses in clinical practice.