Identifying Nursing Diagnosis Patterns in Three Intensive Care Units Using Network Analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the patterns of nursing diagnoses used in three different types of intensive care units (ICUs) using network analysis.

METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted using clinical datasets of 582 patients. Frequency, degree/betweenness centrality, and subgroup analysis were performed.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The findings illuminated core nursing diagnoses with high centrality as well as high frequency. The centrality analysis identified the differences between and unique characteristics of each ICU. The subgroup analysis revealed the nursing problem groups related to the specific nursing care delivered to ICU patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Theses results provide a knowledge base to aid ICU nurses' prompt decision making regarding nursing diagnoses.