Assessing the use of the NANDA-international nursing diagnoses at the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching hospitals complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria

Purpose: This study assessed the use of the NANDA-I nursing diagnoses in a Nigerian hospital. Methods: A multi-stage sampling method was used to select seven wards and 67 nursing process booklets from the Medical, Surgical, Orthopedic, and Mental Health Units of the hospital. Findings: A total of 154 nursing diagnoses were made: 50.7% were made within the first 48 hours of admission, while 35.8% were made on reassessments. The most frequently used nursing diagnoses were self-care deficit, pain, and anxiety. Conclusion: The NANDA-I nursing diagnoses are in use in Nigeria, adding support to the global use of the NANDA-I taxonomy, but findings also suggest a need for an assessment framework informed by nursing. Practice Implication: Nurses in Nigeria would benefit from training programs organized by NANDA-I and national institutions to further refine their use of the nursing process. © 2011, The Authors International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications © 2011, NANDA International.