In building a risk diagnosis, which elements are included?

In building a risk diagnosis, which elements are included?

• A. Signs and Symptoms
• B. Plan of care
• C. Problem and Etiology
• D. Both A and B

Answer: (C)

In a risk diagnosis, you identify a potential problem and the factors that put the patient at risk. The defining elements are the problem and its etiology—the condition the patient is at risk for, and the contributing factors that increase that risk. There are no current signs or symptoms because the problem hasn’t developed yet, and the plan of care is developed after the diagnosis to prevent the risk from becoming real. So the elements included are the problem and the etiology. Signs and symptoms belong to actual diagnoses, and the plan of care belongs in the care plan—not in the diagnostic statement.

In a risk diagnosis, you identify a potential problem and the factors that put the patient at risk. The defining elements are the problem and its etiology—the condition the patient is at risk for, and the contributing factors that increase that risk. There are no current signs or symptoms because the problem hasn’t developed yet, and the plan of care is developed after the diagnosis to prevent the risk from becoming real. So the elements included are the problem and the etiology. Signs and symptoms belong to actual diagnoses, and the plan of care belongs in the care plan—not in the diagnostic statement.