Ace Your BSN Adventure 2025 – Master the Nursing Challenge!

The planning phase in the nursing process is crucial as it involves setting goals and determining the expected outcomes for the patient’s care. Establishing expected patient outcomes is a fundamental activity during this phase, as it provides a clear direction for the nursing interventions that will follow. When nurses articulate specific outcomes, they create measurable and attainable goals that are tailored to the individual needs of the patient.

This component not only helps in guiding the care that will be provided but also plays a significant role in evaluating the effectiveness of those interventions later. By defining what success looks like for each patient, nurses can focus their efforts on achieving those outcomes, ensuring that the care is patient-centered and aligned with the patient’s needs and preferences.

While collecting patient history, reviewing past medical records, and performing physical examinations are all essential steps in the overall nursing process, they are more closely associated with the assessment phase, as they gather the necessary information that informs the planning phase. Thus, establishing expected patient outcomes distinctly characterizes the planning phase and is a key component in achieving effective nursing care.