Final answer:
The nursing process component used to determine if the nursing care plan was successful is the evaluation. It involves comparing planned outcomes with actual outcomes, to judge the effectiveness of the interventions implemented. If unsuccessful, the process restarts with reassessment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The direct answer is D) evaluation. The nursing process follows a systematic order of steps, each connected to the next. It starts with an assessment, where the nurse gathers information about the patient's condition. The facts collected then provide the basis for the nursing diagnosis, which identifies potential or actual health problems that the nursing care plan can address.
Following this, expected results or outcomes are determined as part of setting measurable goals for the patient. These outcomes guide the selection of interventions, which represent the plan of action for managing patient care. The final step, crucially, is the evaluation. This is where the nurse determines if the plan was effective by comparing desired outcomes with actual outcomes. If the intervention has been successful, the outcomes predicted will have occurred. If not, the process begins again, starting with a reassessment of the patient.
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