Which component should be included in a correctly written goal?

Which component should be included in a correctly written goal?

• A. include expected outcomes or measurable criteria to evaluate the achievement of the goal.
• B. require nurse signature before implementation
• C. specify staff shift
• D. describe the physical setting

Answer: (A)

Goals in a nursing plan must be stated with measurable criteria so progress toward the goal can be clearly judged. This makes the goal observable and testable, providing a concrete target for care and a way to document whether it’s reached. For example, instead of a vague aim like “improve mobility,” a measurable goal would specify, “the patient will walk 100 feet with a gait belt with one assist by postoperative day 3,” with progress checked at set times. This kind of measurable outcome lets you evaluate effectiveness and decide if interventions need adjustment. Administrative steps like requiring a nurse signature before implementation are about authorization, not about defining patient progress. Similarly, specifying staff shift or describing the physical setting are planning or implementation details, not the goal itself. Including measurable outcomes is what makes a goal effective and assessable.

Goals in a nursing plan must be stated with measurable criteria so progress toward the goal can be clearly judged. This makes the goal observable and testable, providing a concrete target for care and a way to document whether it’s reached. For example, instead of a vague aim like “improve mobility,” a measurable goal would specify, “the patient will walk 100 feet with a gait belt with one assist by postoperative day 3,” with progress checked at set times. This kind of measurable outcome lets you evaluate effectiveness and decide if interventions need adjustment.

Administrative steps like requiring a nurse signature before implementation are about authorization, not about defining patient progress. Similarly, specifying staff shift or describing the physical setting are planning or implementation details, not the goal itself. Including measurable outcomes is what makes a goal effective and assessable.