What type of nursing diagnosis does the documentation of acute pain refer to in a client with post-surgical symptoms?

The documentation of acute pain in a client with post-surgical symptoms is classified as an actual nursing diagnosis. This is because an actual nursing diagnosis reflects a current, validated health problem or condition that the patient is experiencing. In the context of post-surgical care, acute pain is a direct and observable phenomenon, indicating that the patient is experiencing real symptoms that require intervention and management.

Actual nursing diagnoses are based on a thorough assessment and can include a variety of symptoms and signs that are confirmed through data collected from the patient. In this case, the presence of acute pain shows a clear need for nursing action to assess the pain level, provide comfort measures, and possibly intervene with pain management strategies.

In contrast, potential nursing diagnoses would refer to risks that could arise but are not currently present, while risk nursing diagnoses highlight situations where there is an increased vulnerability to developing a particular problem, such as risk for infection. Wellness nursing diagnoses focus on areas of health promotion and readiness to enhance well-being, which is not relevant when the patient is experiencing acute pain. Thus, the designation of acute pain as an actual nursing diagnosis aligns with the critical understanding and management of the patient’s immediate needs in a post-surgical setting.