Planning

Planning is the third phase of the nursing process. It involves prioritizing problems, formulating goals and outcomes, selecting interventions, and documenting the plan of care. The goal of planning is to develop an individualized plan that will achieve the desired outcomes for the client.

There are different types of planning, such as:

1. Initial planning: performed by the nurse who performs the admission assessment and develops the initial comprehensive plan of care.

2. Ongoing planning: performed by all nurses who work with the client to update and modify the plan as needed.

3. Discharge planning: performed by all nurses who work with the client to anticipate and plan for the client’s needs after discharge.

A goal is a broad statement that describes a desired change in the client’s condition or behavior. An outcome is a specific, measurable, realistic, and time-bound statement that describes how the goal will be achieved. For example:

1. Goal: The client will have adequate pain relief.

2. Outcome: The client will report pain level of 3/10 or less within 30 minutes after receiving analgesics.

An intervention is an action performed by the nurse or delegated to another health care provider that helps the client achieve a specific outcome. Interventions can be independent (nurse-initiated), dependent (physician-initiated), or collaborative (interprofessional). For example:

1. Independent intervention: Assess pain level and location every 2 hours.

2. Dependent intervention: Administer morphine sulfate 2 mg IV as ordered for pain level of 7/10 or higher.

3. Collaborative intervention: Consult with physical therapist for pain management techniques.