Formulating a family health and nursing care plan comes under which phase of the Nursing Process?

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Explanation

Formulating a nursing care plan is the central activity of the Planning phase.
This phase involves a series of steps: setting priorities, identifying patient-centered goals and expected outcomes, and selecting evidence-based nursing interventions.
The result of the planning phase is a written or electronic care plan that directs the entire nursing team.
It is a collaborative process that should involve the patient and family to ensure the goals are realistic and valued by them.

Option A: The Action phase, also known as Implementation, is when the care plan is carried out or put into action. The plan must be formulated before it can be implemented.
Option B: The Assessment phase involves gathering data (e.g., vital signs, patient history, physical exam). This data is used to identify problems, which then informs the planning phase. The plan itself is not created during assessment.
Option D: The Evaluation phase occurs after the plan has been implemented. Its purpose is to determine if the goals set during the planning phase were achieved and to assess the effectiveness of the interventions.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Phases of the Nursing Process helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A well-developed nursing care plan is essential for providing consistent, coordinated, and high-quality patient care. It serves as a communication tool for the entire healthcare team.
In the Indian healthcare context, where patient loads can be high, a clear and prioritized care plan ensures that essential nursing actions are not missed.
Patient safety is enhanced because a formal plan helps prevent errors of omission and ensures that care is evidence-based and goal-directed.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key activity in the question stem: 'Formulating a... nursing care plan'.
Recall the five phases of the nursing process, often remembered by the mnemonic ADPIE: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Analyze the meaning of each phase. 'Planning' is the phase where a plan is created.
Match the activity 'formulating a plan' directly to the 'Planning' phase.
Eliminate the other options by defining their purpose: Assessment is data gathering, Implementation (Action) is performing the plan, and Evaluation is checking the results of the plan.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 22-24

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 451-453

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.