RESUMO
PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the defining characteristics of, and examine their association with, the nursing diagnosis (ND) of Neonatal Jaundice (00194) in sample of hospitalized newborns. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study developed with 100 newborns aged between 24h and ten days. Data collection was performed in a public hospital of tertiary health care between March and June of 2016. RESULTS: The ND of Neonatal jaundice was present in 31% of the sample. The most frequent defining characteristics were yellow-orange skin color (65%) and abnormal blood profile (75%). Yellow mucous membranes, yellow-orange skin color and bruised skin showed statistically significant sensitivity and specificity. Yellow mucous membranes, yellow sclera and yellow-orange skin color were statistically associated with Neonatal jaundice. Yellow mucous membranes showed the best diagnostic accuracy measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical indicators that best predicted and increased the probability of developing jaundice were identified. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These clinical indicators increase the ability of nurses to clinically infer nursing diagnoses. This allows nurses to identify signs and symptoms of health conditions in a sensible and definitive manner, decreasing the possibility of errors.