As students progress through their education in various healthcare fields such as nursing, medicine, and allied health, they are bound to come across the term “diagnosis” many times. A diagnosis is a medical or mental health condition that has been identified and named by a healthcare professional, based on signs and symptoms, lab tests, imaging studies, and other diagnostic methods.
While the singular form of “diagnosis” is straightforward, it can become more complicated when trying to refer to multiple diagnoses. The plural form of “diagnosis” is “diagnoses,” which may seem simple enough, but can be easily misunderstood and misused by students who are unfamiliar with this particular nuance of medical terminology.
To teach students about the plural of “diagnosis,” instructors should emphasize the following points:
1. The word “diagnosis” is a Latin noun that ends in “-is” in its singular form. In Latin, the plural form of “-is” is “-es,” so the plural of diagnosis is “diagnoses.”
2. The word “diagnosis” is often used as a collective noun, which means that it can refer to multiple cases of diagnosis as a group. For example, “The doctor made several diagnoses today” means that the doctor identified multiple medical conditions in different patients.
3. When referring to multiple specific diagnoses, it is important to use “diagnoses” in its plural form to avoid confusion. For example, “The patient has three diagnoses: diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia” distinguishes the three distinct conditions from each other.
4. Students should pay attention to how the plural form of “diagnosis” is used in medical literature, case studies, and electronic health records. This will help them understand how to use the term correctly in their own writing and documentation.
Teaching students about the plural of “diagnosis” may seem like a minor detail, but it is an important part of mastering medical terminology and effective communication in healthcare settings. By emphasizing the correct usage and context of “diagnoses,” instructors can help students avoid common mistakes and ensure that their communication with patients and colleagues is clear and concise.
