Abstract
Objectives
Validate the defining characteristics, related factors, and definition of proposed nursing diagnosis: longing.
Method
Using Fehring's Diagnostic Content Validation model, expert nurses rated the frequency of longing seen in patients/caregivers. Agreement with the proposed definition was also tabulated.
Findings
None of the defining characteristics reached major criteria (>0.80). Six of the 84 characteristics achieved a weighted ratio of less than 0.50. The proposed definition and related factors were supported.
Conclusion
Current research supports the proposed development of a nursing diagnosis for the human response of longing.
Practice Implications
Because the psychosocial characteristics do not make longing easy to assess, continued research is needed to ask patients and caregivers about their personal experience with this human response.
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