Setting goals and interventions for patient care is part of which nursing process step?

In the nursing process, setting goals and interventions for patient care is a critical component of the planning phase. During this step, the nurse collaborates with the patient to develop specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals aimed at addressing the diagnosed health issues. This process involves prioritizing the patient's needs, determining desired health outcomes, and outlining the specific interventions that will be implemented to achieve those goals.

Effective planning is essential for guiding the nursing interventions that follow and ensuring they are aligned with the patient's unique circumstances and preferences. It sets a clear roadmap for both the care team and the patient, enhancing the likelihood of successful health outcomes.

While assessment involves the collection of data about the patient's health status, and diagnosis relates to identifying health problems based on this data, planning specifically focuses on what will be done in response to those assessments and diagnoses. Evaluation comes later and involves assessing whether the goals and interventions were successful in achieving the desired health outcomes.