American Nurse Coding System: A Case Study

Standardized Coding System The American Nurses Association (2008) suggests the use of 13 languages that nurses should to communicate thoughts, ideas, and care plans. Nurses work in ever specialty and are require interacting with each other and other specialties to benefit their patients. Recently my hospital has created the usage of an electronic interdisciplinary care plan (eIPOC). The eIPOC utilizes Nursing Diagnosis from NANDA International language to discuss patient problems and interventions being used to solve problems. This primary language allows nurses from the bedside to case managers to communicate patient progress. By having an established language, we all communicate within the same language making communication easy and efficient. Herdman et al. (2011) states that the NANDA International next editions will have significant additions for the usage by administrators, educators,
and with consideration of electronic health records. NANDA has recognized the critical of a central language across specialties and is working to be more adaptable to these areas.
The Importance Rutherford (2008) says the reason having a standardized language is so important is because nurses need to be able to have an explicit language so that they may standardize practice and influence regulations.
The ability of nurses to teach their method, control, and finance their training is imperative for the growth of the profession. Nurses need to be able to describe clearly what it is that they do so that they can be compensated appropriately for the care that they give. I am a fan of the idea that is supported by the current nursing pioneer, Laura Gasparis that suggest nurses like physicians should be incorporated into practice with each other. For example as a Cardiac Surgery ICU nurse I would find other cardiac surgery ICU nurses who were skilled and competent to care for complex patients then go to hospitals and say “Hey you need experienced cardiac surgery nurses well I have ten ready to go if you want them to work for you then pay them x amount of dollars and negotiate benefits.” This empowers nurses and expands the field of
nursing.
Specialty Area Language The usage of NANDA in specialty areas can be very applicable. However, I feel the usage of shorthand in specialty areas will never change. However as a case manager whenever I write a clinical review of a patient I write for my audience. If I know I am speaking to a Cardiac Surgery Nurse then I feel comfortable using abbreviations such as CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) or MR (Mitral Regurgitation). These abbreviations can mean other things in other specialties, but I try to use NANDA more when speaking to a broad audience. Nursing diagnosis allows me to communicate ideas efficiently without having to go back and explain and in the world of case management can be enormous when trying to get compensation for patient services from their insurance payers. I am more incline to agree that regardless of specialty area NANDA can be applicable to all specialties especially with the addition and growth of future editions.

References American Nurses Association. (2008). Nursing informatics: Scope & standards of practice. Silver Springs, MD: Author.
Herdman, T., Weir-Hughes, D., Brokel, J., von Krogh, G., Staub, M., Moorhead, S., & ... Farren, A. (2011). Nanda international news.International Journal Of Nursing Terminologies & Classifications, 22(1), 44-52. doi:10.1111/j.1744-618X.2011.01179.x
Rutherford, M. A. (2008). Standardized nursing language: What does it mean for nursing practice? OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 13(1).