[Nursing diagnosis--questions which remained unanswered].

Abstract

This article concerns one of the research questions in the project on 'Terminology in Dutch Nursing: Towards clarification, classification and standardization of nursing concepts', i.c. related to the conceptual definition of nursing diagnosis. On the one hand those parts are reported on which agreement was reached, by means of literature research and analysis of documents, interviews with key-informants and group discussions and through a Delphi research. On the other hand, those aspects of the proposed conceptual definition are elucidated on which discussions seem not to be closed yet or that are missing in the definition for lack of agreement. These discussion points are explored, thus following one of the recommendations of the research project on 'Terminology in Dutch Nursing', namely for further refinement of the proposed working definition of the concept nursing diagnosis. Finally some suggestions are made to realize this solicited refinement.