Which statement about goals in the nursing plan is true?

Which statement about goals in the nursing plan is true?

• A. They should be client-centered and measurable.
• B. They must be written by the physician
• C. They are optional in planning
• D. They do not require evaluation

Answer: (B)

Goals in the nursing plan should be client-centered and measurable. This means the target is defined in terms of what the patient values and can actually achieve, and there is an objective way to determine whether it has been met. When goals are client-centered, they reflect the patient’s needs, preferences, and functional abilities, rather than what others assume is best. When they are measurable, they include clear criteria for success, such as specific actions, amounts, or timeframes—for example, “The patient will ambulate 50 feet with a cane with supervision by end of shift,” or “The patient will self-administer insulin with zero hypoglycemia events for 24 hours.” Planning is an interprofessional process driven by assessment findings, with the nurse leading the development of goals in collaboration with the patient. Goals are not written only by physicians, and they are not optional. They require ongoing evaluation to determine progress, guide interventions, and decide whether to continue, modify, or discontinue the plan. Evaluation checks whether the patient met the goal, partially met it, or did not meet it, and it informs any necessary adjustments to care.

Goals in the nursing plan should be client-centered and measurable. This means the target is defined in terms of what the patient values and can actually achieve, and there is an objective way to determine whether it has been met. When goals are client-centered, they reflect the patient’s needs, preferences, and functional abilities, rather than what others assume is best. When they are measurable, they include clear criteria for success, such as specific actions, amounts, or timeframes—for example, “The patient will ambulate 50 feet with a cane with supervision by end of shift,” or “The patient will self-administer insulin with zero hypoglycemia events for 24 hours.”

Planning is an interprofessional process driven by assessment findings, with the nurse leading the development of goals in collaboration with the patient. Goals are not written only by physicians, and they are not optional. They require ongoing evaluation to determine progress, guide interventions, and decide whether to continue, modify, or discontinue the plan. Evaluation checks whether the patient met the goal, partially met it, or did not meet it, and it informs any necessary adjustments to care.