What are the phases of the nursing process?

The correct response identifies the universally recognized five phases of the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Assessment involves gathering comprehensive information about the patient’s health status to identify their needs and problems. The diagnosis phase follows, where nurses interpret the data collected in the assessment to formulate clinical judgments regarding the patient’s health conditions. During the planning phase, measurable goals and desired outcomes are established alongside interventions to address the identified diagnoses. Implementation is the action phase where the planned interventions are put into practice. Finally, evaluation assesses the effectiveness of the interventions in meeting the set goals, allowing for adjustments to be made as necessary.

This structured approach helps ensure that nursing care is systematic, patient-focused, and outcomes-oriented. Each phase builds upon the previous one, creating a continuous cycle of assessment and refinement aimed at improving patient care and health outcomes. Other answer choices either contain incorrect terminology or do not sufficiently cover the essential components recognized in the standard nursing process framework.