Question

A nurse has developed a plan of care with nursing interventions designed to meet specific client outcomes. The outcomes are not met by the time specified in the plan. What should the nurse do now in terms of evaluation?

A) Continue to follow the written plan of care.
B) Make recommendations for revising the plan of care.
C) Ask another health care professional to design a plan of care.
D) State "goal will be met at a later date."

Answer 1

If client outcomes are not met by the specified time, a nurse should revise the plan of care by reassessing the client's needs and adjusting interventions, not simply continue with the same plan or defer the goal.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse finds that the specific client outcomes have not been met by the time specified in the plan of care, the appropriate action is B) Make recommendations for revising the plan of care. This involves re-assessing the situation, determining the reasons why the outcomes were not met, and adjusting the interventions accordingly. Simply following the same plan or deferring the goal without addressing the reasons for the lack of progress is not effective or client-centered care.

It is essential for nurses to continuously evaluate client progress and the effectiveness of the interventions. By making observations, the nurse can identify any changes in the client's condition. If outcomes are not met, these observations can guide how to alter the plan. The next steps include adjusting the care plan to better suit the client's needs, which may involve changing the interventions, setting new outcome goals, and possibly consulting with other health care professionals to ensure comprehensive care.