Question

How do nursing diagnoses, along with nursing theory, support autonomous nursing practice?

Answer 1

Professional autonomy in nursing refers to have the authority to make independent decisions and the freedom to act in accordance with one's professional knowledge base. The identification and formulation of nursing diagnosis are one of the examples of professional autonomy. By utilizing the nursing theoretical knowledge the autonomous practice can be strengthened. Nursing theories are tested and proven to be utilized in patient care situations by the nurses. The use of established practice and knowledge base will enhance the autonomous practice.

Every time nurses make a patient assessment they are engaging in the autonomous nursing practice. The decisions made from the assessments, they make autonomous professional decisions. Patient education or advocating for a patient they are also engaging them in autonomous professional acts.

Nurses autonomy can be enhanced by clearly communicating and organizing their work to ensure that they have the freedom to act on nursing decisions using sound clinical judgment. The proper communication of nursing decisions and diagnosis based on the nursing theories ensures autonomous nursing practice. The strong theoretical base developed by nursing theories supports the independent and autonomous actions of nurses.

The validity and reliability of the nursing actions will be enhanced by utilizing strong theoretical base.