Final answer:
The nursing process is best described as a goal-directed, orderly series of activities that includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation, aligning with the systematic approach of the scientific method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student nurse is studying the nursing process, and the best statement to describe the nursing process is D. A goal-directed, orderly series of activities. This process includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. It's a systematic method that nurses use to ensure patient care is thorough, consistent, and continuous. Much like the scientific method, it begins with collecting data (observation), formulating a nursing diagnosis (hypothesis), planning and implementing care (experiment), and finishing with evaluation (analyzing results and adjusting care as needed).