Risk for decreased cardiac output: validation of a proposal for nursing diagnosis

[Validation of nursing diagnosis: challenges and alternatives]

Studies on validation of nursing diagnoses have been strongly influenced by the methodological framework developed in the 1980s. The suitability of these models to validate elements that make a nursing diagnosis has undergone several criticisms. This article aims to discuss these limitations and describe alternative approaches to overcome the criticism of traditional models. A critical analysis based on recent published literature on new approaches in research diagnoses was taken as basis for the discussions presented. Alternative methods are described for the concept analysis applied the procedures for validation of nursing diagnoses; methods for diagnostic content analysis by proficient judges, and methods for clinical validation of indicators and etiological factors. Conclude that there are few studies with these new approaches and the complexity of the analysis is an aspect that hinders its implementation.

Validation of the concept risk for decreased cardiac output

OBJECTIVES

to validate the concept "risk for decreased cardiac output".

METHOD

Six of the eight steps suggested in the technique developed by Walker & Avant were adopted to analyze the concept of the phenomenon under study and the proposal made by Hoskins was used for content validation, taking into account agreement achieved among five experts.

RESULTS

the concept "decreased cardiac output" was found in the nursing and medical fields and refers to the heart's pumping capacity while the concept "risk" is found in a large number of disciplines. In regard to the defining attributes, "impaired pumping capacity" was the main attribute of decreased cardiac output and "probability" was the main attribute of risk. The uses and defining attributes of the concepts "decreased cardiac output" and "risk" were analyzed as well as their antecedent and consequent events in order to establish the definition of "risk for decreased cardiac output", which was validated by 100% of the experts.

CONCLUSION

The obtained data indicate that the risk for decreased cardiac output phenomenon can be a nursing diagnosis and refining it can contribute to the advancement of nursing classifications in this context.