Basis for the nursing care planning process
The nursing process is based on the scientific method of problem-solving, which involves:
stating the problem you observed
forming a hypothesis about the solution to the problem (‘if … then’ statements)
developing a method to test the hypothesis
collecting the test data
analysing the data
drawing conclusions about the hypothesis.
A scientific fact
Most people use the scientific method instinctively, without being aware they’re doing it. Simply picking out which pair of shoes best complements your favourite outfit is an exercise in the scientific method. So if you’re familiar with the scientific process, the nursing process probably seems familiar.
Nursing process steps
The nursing process encompasses five steps:
assessment
nursing diagnosis
planning
implementation
evaluation
Following these steps systematically in this order enables you to organise and prioritise patient care – especially critical for the novice nursing student. It also helps ensure that you don’t skip or overlook important information. When used correctly, the nursing process ensures that the care plan is revised when new problems arise or patient outcomes remain unmet. It also allows the care plan to be discontinued when patient outcomes have been met.