Environmental Nursing Diagnoses: A Proposal for Further Development of Taxonomy II

PURPOSE. To propose further development of environmental diagnoses and to offer recommendations for expanding Taxonomy II to include more diagnostic labels that encompass the environmental domain. SOURCES. Literature in the disciplines of nursing, biology, toxicology, public health, sociology, and anthropology. DATA SYNTHESIS. Nurses need language to describe the human responses of individuals, families, communities, and global society to environmental health threats. CONCLUSIONS. New environmental diagnoses will lead to refinement of language that describes the contribution of nursing to an emerging international and community health priority. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Environmental diagnostic labels will allow nurses to name responses and plan interventions that respond to instances or risks of exposure to threats from the physical and sociocultural environment. Search terms: Environmental contamination, environmental health threats, exposure, nursing diagnoses