Which statement correctly describes signs and symptoms in a nursing diagnosis?

Which statement correctly describes signs and symptoms in a nursing diagnosis?

• A. They are always observable only
• B. They are the data that describe the problem
• C. They support the problem using assessment findings
• D. They are the etiology

Answer: (C)

In nursing diagnosis, signs and symptoms are the defining characteristics that provide evidence from the assessment showing a problem exists. They can be objective observations (signs) or subjective reports from the patient (symptoms). This evidence supports and justifies the nurse’s chosen problem statement, guiding what needs care. So, the best statement is that they support the problem using assessment findings. This reflects how the nursing diagnosis is built: patient data gathered during assessment establish the problem by matching these defining characteristics to the diagnosis. They are not the etiology (the cause of the problem), and they are not limited to what can be observed—patient-reported symptoms are essential parts of the data.

In nursing diagnosis, signs and symptoms are the defining characteristics that provide evidence from the assessment showing a problem exists. They can be objective observations (signs) or subjective reports from the patient (symptoms). This evidence supports and justifies the nurse’s chosen problem statement, guiding what needs care.

So, the best statement is that they support the problem using assessment findings. This reflects how the nursing diagnosis is built: patient data gathered during assessment establish the problem by matching these defining characteristics to the diagnosis. They are not the etiology (the cause of the problem), and they are not limited to what can be observed—patient-reported symptoms are essential parts of the data.