The objectives of this exploratory-descriptive study are: to identify nursing diagnoses, using the data contained in hospital charts; and to characterize these diagnoses through mapping, using Taxonomy II of the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association. The data collection was carried out in October and November of 2006, applying a questionnaire with eight closed questions to all the existing hospital charts (196) in the Interdisciplinary Geriatrics and Gerontology Program of the Fluminense Federal University in Niteroi, RJ, Brazil. The data was grouped and organized for simple descriptive statistical treatment. The principal nursing diagnoses were found to be: risk of integrity to the skin, impaired memory, impaired dentition. We conclude that the mapping done showed to be in agreement with the diagnostic taxonomy, helped in the construction of a patterned instrument, and validated the need for the use of this technology as a standard system of language.
Nursing diagnosis; Aged; Nursing process; Geriatric nursing
