Measuring elderly care through the use of a nursing conceptual model and the international classification for nursing practice®

INTRODUCTION: Nursing models and terminologies can contribute to research the nature of nursing care. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe nursing diagnoses in acute- and long-term elderly care. METHODS: A point prevalence survey was conducted on 240 patients. The International Classification for Nursing Practice was used to describe nursing diagnoses, and a conceptual model was used to categorize them in nursing needs. RESULTS: A total of 2,673 diagnoses were detected. Mean was higher in nursing home than in hospital (t test =-3.688; p = .0003). Prevalent diagnoses were significantly different. DISCUSSION: High complexity, with different issues for nurses, was observed both in acute- and in long-term settings. CONCLUSION: The results could help to comprehend the nature of older persons needs and could contribute to the development of an International Classification for Nursing Practice catalogue for elderly care. for Nursing Practice catalogue for elderly care. © 2012, The Authors International Journal of Nursing Knowledge © 2012, NANDA International.