Final answer:
The purpose of a care plan is to identify a patient's health needs and outline the nursing actions to address those needs, making it central to providing consistent and effective care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a care plan is to identify a patient's needs and describe the nursing actions that will be taken to meet those needs. The correct answer to the question 'Which choice best describes the purpose of a care plan?' is C-to identify a patient's needs and describe nursing actions. A care plan is tailored to an individual's specific health needs and includes detailed instructions for nurses and other healthcare professionals to ensure that consistent and effective care is provided. It includes goals, interventions, and a plan for evaluation. Ensuring consistency of care over a period of time is also important, but the primary focus is on assessing the patient's needs and planning the nursing care to meet those needs.