DIAGNOSTIC INFERENCE CAPACITY OF SPECIALIST NURSES

Abstract

Objective: To assess the capacity for diagnostic inference among specialist nurses. Method: Descriptive study, performed in July 2013, with five specialist nurses of the research group entitled Care and Epidemiology Practices in Health and Nursing. The diagnostic inference capacity was assessed through efficiency tests, false positive rate, false negative rate and trend analysis. The research was approved by the research ethics committee of the sponsoring institution, through the Protocol N°148.428. Results: Among the specialists evaluated for their diagnostic inference capacity, only two reached the desirable scores out of the four attributes evaluated. Conclusion: It is concluded that few specialist nurses obtained satisfactory results. Thus, it is necessary to develop learning strategies in their undergraduate studies and their continuing education for practitioners.