Examination of nursing diagnoses for adults hospitalized with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, 1982-1990.

The literature on nursing care of the hospitalized adult with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from 1982 to the present was examined, and 16 formal care plans were extracted. The nursing care plans were examined for commonalities of identified nursing diagnoses, which were then tabulated according to frequency. Analysis of the types of problems addressed shows that five of the nine highest-frequency problems were physiologic (altered nutrition: less than body requirements, respiratory problems, impaired skin integrity, diarrhea, potential for infection). The other four problems were cognitive (altered thought processes), safety (potential for injury), social (social isolation), and a combination of physiologic and cognitive (pain). Validation of nursing diagnoses is needed as a solid foundation for nursing intervention research in the care of patients with AIDS.