Which of the below is NOT a part of the nursing process of 'planning'?
Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer -2019 (Shift -1)
Explanation
Supervising delegated care is a key component of the 'Implementation' phase of the nursing process.
Implementation is the 'action' phase where the nurse carries out the plan of care that was developed during the planning phase.
This step involves not only performing tasks directly but also directing and supervising the care provided by other healthcare personnel, such as nursing assistants.
Therefore, it is not part of planning, which is focused on setting goals and deciding on interventions.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
Option A: Writing nursing interventions is a fundamental part of the planning phase. After goals are set, the nurse must decide on specific actions (interventions) to help the patient achieve those goals.
Option B: Formulating goals and desired outcomes is a critical step in the planning phase. These goals provide direction for the nursing care and the criteria for evaluating its success.
Option C: Prioritising problems and nursing diagnoses is the initial step of the planning phase. A patient often has multiple problems, and the nurse must determine which ones are most urgent (e.g., using Maslow's hierarchy or ABCs).
Related Visual
Visual 1: Flowchart - A flowchart illustrating the five steps of the nursing process (ADPIE) in a cycle, with key activities listed under each step. This would visually separate Planning from Implementation.
Clinical Relevance
Nursing practice connection: Knowing Phases of the Nursing Process (ADPIE) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the distinct phases of the nursing process is fundamental to providing organized, safe, and effective patient care. It prevents tasks from being missed and ensures care is logical and goal-oriented.
A structured approach allows for clear communication and delegation among the healthcare team, improving patient safety and outcomes.
What if? If a nurse starts implementing care without proper planning, the interventions may be disorganized, inappropriate for the patient's priority needs, and potentially unsafe. It would be impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of care without pre-set goals.
How to Approach the Question
First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the 'planning' phase of the nursing process.
Recall the five steps of the nursing process using the mnemonic ADPIE: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Note the negative keyword 'NOT'. This means you are looking for the option that does NOT belong to the planning phase.
Evaluate each option and categorize it into one of the ADPIE phases.
A, B, and C (writing interventions, formulating goals, prioritizing) are all activities that involve thinking ahead and creating a blueprint for care, which is the essence of Planning.
Option D (supervising) is an action-oriented task of carrying out the plan, which places it in the Implementation phase. This is the correct answer as it is the outlier.
Concept Tested & Keywords
Concept Tested: Phases of the Nursing Process (ADPIE)
Stem keywords: nursing process, planning
Lead-in keywords: NOT
Negative lead-in flag: This question uses negative framing ('NOT') to identify the activity that is excluded from the planning phase.
Question ID
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