Which statement best describes what data justifies the chosen diagnosis?

• A. Physician's orders.
• B. Evidence gathered to support the chosen statement.
• C. Financial resources.
• D. Nurse's personal judgment.

Answer: (B)

The data that justifies a nursing diagnosis come from the evidence gathered during assessment. This includes the patient’s reported symptoms, observed signs, vital signs, lab results, and other objective findings. When these cues align to indicate a health problem, they substantiate the chosen diagnosis and guide the care plan, including pharmacologic interventions. Physician’s orders are directives for treatment, not the basis for the diagnosis itself. Financial resources and the nurse’s personal opinion don’t provide the health-context data needed to justify a diagnosis. So the data that supports the chosen diagnosis is the collected evidence from assessment.