What is the correct order of the nursing process stages?

The correct order of the nursing process stages is Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. This sequence reflects the systematic approach that nurses use to provide patient care.

Beginning with Assessment, nurses gather comprehensive data about the patient's health status. This stage involves collecting both subjective and objective information that helps inform the next steps in the care process. Following that, the Diagnosis stage allows the nurse to identify patient problems based on the assessment data. A clear understanding of the patient’s issues leads to the Planning stage, where specific, measurable objectives and interventions are outlined to meet the identified needs.

The Implementation stage is where the nurse puts the care plan into action, providing the interventions designed in the previous stage. Finally, Evaluation involves assessing the effectiveness of the interventions to determine if the patient’s health outcomes have improved. If the desired outcomes are not achieved, the cycle may return to a previous stage, necessitating reassessment and modification of the care plan.

Understanding this order is fundamental for nurses, as it ensures a logical and organized approach to patient care, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of nursing interventions.