Clinical Diagnosis
Title: Clinical Diagnoses
Date: February 2011
Te Ao Māramatanga New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses supports Registered Nurses in the specialty area of Mental Health and Addiction (with the relevant clinical experience and mental health nursing and related educational qualifications at post- graduate level) to use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- IV) (American Psychiatric Association 1994), the updated DSM-IV-TR (2000) and the World Health Organisation International Classification of Diseases (ICD) (1992) within their clinical practice. Making nursing and clinical diagnoses assists Registered Nurses in this specialty area to develop treatment plans with clients and care management processes, record/collect statistical data, and communicate with other health professionals.
This national position aligns with international mental health nursing practice within which DSM-IV and ICD-10 systems are utilised.