Which of the following Nursing Outcome Statements is correctly written?

Appeared in: GMCH - 2015

Explanation

A correct nursing outcome is a measurable, patient-centered statement that describes a desired change in a patient's condition, behavior, or perception in response to nursing care.
This statement must follow the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
The option "In the next 24 hours, the patient's fluid intake will total 1000 ml" perfectly aligns with these criteria.
It is Specific (fluid intake), Measurable (1000 ml), Attainable (a reasonable amount), Relevant (for fluid management), and Time-bound (in 24 hours).

Option A: This statement describes an action that the nurse will perform (communicating with relatives). It is a nursing intervention, not a patient outcome.
Option C: This is a conditional instruction or a PRN (as needed) order. It does not set a specific, measurable goal to be achieved within a timeframe; it only gives permission under a certain condition (thirst).
Option D: This is a broad, long-term goal, but it is not a well-formed outcome statement because the verb 'learn' is not directly measurable. It also lacks a specific time frame.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Formulating a correct nursing outcome statement using SMART criteria helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Correctly written outcomes are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the nursing care plan and ensuring all members of the healthcare team are working towards the same objective goal.
SMART outcomes remove ambiguity and provide a clear standard for measuring patient progress, which is essential for documentation and continuity of care.
What if? If the outcome was written as 'Patient will have an adequate fluid intake,' it would be ineffective. 'Adequate' is subjective and not measurable. Without a specific volume (like 1000 ml) and a time frame (like 24 hours), the nurse cannot objectively determine if the goal has been met.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core task: you need to find the 'correctly written' Nursing Outcome Statement.
Recall the standard for writing outcomes in nursing: the SMART criteria.
List the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Systematically evaluate each option against all five criteria.
Eliminate options that are nursing interventions (actions by the nurse), vague goals (not measurable), or simple instructions (not a goal to be achieved).
Select the one option that is patient-centered and meets all components of the SMART framework.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Formulating a correct nursing outcome statement using SMART criteria.
Stem keywords: Nursing Outcome Statements, correctly written
Lead-in keywords: Which

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 35-37

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor pp. 86-88, 810-812

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