The nursing student is caring for a patient admitted with severe anemia. The patient receives two units of packed red blood cells and tells the student, "I am feeling so much better. I'm not so tired anymore and can bathe myself."

Question

The student reviews the patient goal "report an increase in activity tolerance" and concludes that the patient's goal has been met and adjusts the patient's plan of care. This is an example of nursing process:
a.
organization.
b.
dynamics.
c.
adaptability.
d.
collaboration.

Answer 1

ANS: B
The nursing process is cyclic rather than linear. As an individual patient's condition changes, so does the way a professional nurse thinks about that patient's needs, forcing modification of earlier plans of care. The dynamic, responsive nature of the nursing process allows it to be used effectively with patients in any setting and at every level of care. The plan of care is individualized for the patient on the basis of assessment findings, changing needs, setting, and timing of interaction, not just outcomes. Following the steps of the nursing process ensures that patient care is well organized and thorough. Collaboration among several members of the health care team is often required to adequately address patient needs. In many cases, nurses incorporate orders from a primary care provider, nursing interventions, and input from others, such as physical therapists, social workers, or respiratory therapists, into a patient's plan of care to help alleviate patient problems and achieve established patient-centered goals and outcomes.