Application of the N ANDA-I/NIC/NOC Nursing Care Plan in Emergency Management of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Aim To examine the feasibility and short-term outcomes of implementing a standardized nursing care plan based on NANDA International (NANDA-I) nursing diagnoses, Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) in the emergency management of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Design Quantitative pre-test/post-test pilot study.

Methods A convenience sample of 40 patients admitted to an emergency department for acute diabetic complications was enrolled. A structured nursing care plan grounded in NANDA-I, NIC, and NOC taxonomies was implemented during the emergency care episode. Nursing outcomes related to glycemia, glucosuria, and ketonuria were measured before and after the intervention using standardized five-point NOC indicators. Pre–post comparisons were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests.

Results Statistically significant improvements were observed in all nursing-sensitive outcomes following the intervention. Mean glycemia scores increased from 2.05 ± 1.65 to 4.40 ± 0.74 (p < .001), glucosuria scores from 1.98 ± 1.67 to 4.50 ± 0.88 (p < .001), and ketonuria scores from 1.68 ± 1.33 to 4.63 ± 0.93 (p < .001). Post-intervention outcomes demonstrated reduced variability, indicating more consistent clinical stabilization within the emergency timeframe.

Conclusion : The implementation of a standardized NANDA-I/NIC/NOC-based nursing care plan in an emergency department was feasible and was associated with significant short-term improvements in key metabolic indicators among patients with acute diabetic complications. However, given the absence of a control group, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary and require confirmation in controlled studies.

Relevance to Clinical Practice This study supports the use of standardized nursing terminologies to structure nursing clinical judgment, guide targeted interventions, and evaluate nursing-sensitive outcomes in emergency settings. Adoption of NANDA-I, NIC, and NOC may enhance the visibility, consistency, and measurability of nursing contributions to acute diabetes care.