Which term identifies what is unhealthy about the patient and/or what the patient would like to change in their health status?

• A. Diagnosis/problem label
• B. Nursing diagnosis
• C. Etiology
• D. Defining characteristics

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is naming the health issue and the change the patient wants to see. The diagnosis/problem label is the concise name given to the unhealthy status or the area the patient would like to change, and it serves as the label that guides goals and plans. A nursing diagnosis, while related, is a more detailed formal statement that includes factors and cues, used for planning care. Etiology is about the cause of the problem, not the problem’s name itself. Defining characteristics are the signs and symptoms that support the problem. So the term that directly identifies the unhealthy status and the desired change is the diagnosis/problem label.