Abstract
The purpose of this research is to clarify the nursing diagnostic processes of nursing students. The study subjects were 20 nursing students who were in bedside learning and took charge of patients suffering from depression. We analyzed their training records and extracted the information on which their nursing diagnoses were made. The information was classified into the categories based on the nursing diagnosis of North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA). As a result, the students were more likely to make their nursing diagnoses based mainly on subjective complaints of the patients, without logical reasoning. The results indicated an insufficient knowledge of the disease and a shortage of opportunity for the students to collect objective information of the patients. In conclusion, our study results suggest that bedside learning students should have the chance to reconfirm their knowledge and the nursing diagnosis procedures; that arrangements have to be made for students and ward staff to confer with each other; and that students should be advised on how to make effective use of the meetings to share their experiences and increase their knowledge. The implications of these findings for nursing students' education are discussed.
