We aimed to describe the evolution in nursing diagnoses for children with congenital heart disease. This longitudinal study was carried out from July to November of 2004. The sample consisted of 45 children interned in a public hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil, followed during fifteen days. In this period, we accomplished six diagnostic evaluations and found 21 nursing diagnoses. Six of these showed greater oscillations in their occurrence over time: Ineffective breathing pattern, Activity intolerance, Ineffective airway clearance, Hyperthermia, Sleep pattern disturbance, Risk for activity intolerance. Five parametric models were constructed in the time domain, with a view to predicting the occurrence of the nursing diagnoses. Knowledge about the temporal evolution in individuals' responses can guide nursing care towards the client's real needs.