Knowledge Deficit: Not a Nursing Diagnosis

The author concludes that knowledge deficit is not a legitimate diagnosis and suggests that it can be dropped from the taxonomy, which would encourage clinicians to focus on patients' Problem state using lack of knowledge as a risk factor, etiology or defining characteristic.

Abstract

This paper challenges the conceptual validity of the approved nursing diagnosis “Knowledge Deficit (specify).” The concept is examined in relation to four criteria for legitimate nursing diagnoses: appropriate conceptual focus, necessary diagnostic attributes, theoretical validity and clinical utility. Using these criteria, the author concludes that knowledge deficit is not a legitimate diagnosis and suggests that it can be dropped from the taxonomy. This would encourage clinicians to focus on patients' Problem state using lack of knowledge as a risk factor, etiology or defining characteristic. Patient outcomes would then be defined in terms of state resolution rather than knowledge increment alone.