What does a nursing diagnosis describe?

A nursing diagnosis is fundamentally a statement that describes a health problem that can be addressed through nursing interventions. It is an assessment that identifies the patient's health status, needs, and responses to health issues, which allows nurses and personal support workers to create effective care plans tailored to the individual's requirements.

This type of diagnosis is not about the specific medical treatments prescribed by physicians, which is why the first option is not correct. While a medical diagnosis may focus on diseases or conditions, a nursing diagnosis emphasizes the client's holistic needs and outlines the nursing measures that can be implemented to address those specific health concerns.

The correct answer encapsulates not only the identification of the health problem but also highlights the responsibility of nursing professionals to take action based on those assessments. It’s about enabling nurses and personal support workers to provide care that is responsive and effective for the individual's unique situation.

The option referring to the overall health history of the client misrepresents what a nursing diagnosis aims to convey. Although understanding a client's health history is important for formulating a diagnosis, a historical account itself does not provide a statement of health problems.

Similarly, the steps taken by the caregiver during a visit are more aligned with interventions or the execution of care rather than the description of a nursing diagnosis. The nursing