After identifying nursing diagnoses, the nurse plans outcomes for a patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Which outcome should the nurse use to evaluate this patient's care?

Question

a. The patient will have less heartburn.
b. The patient will sleep through the night.
c. The patient's esophageal burning will resolve 30 minutes after taking oral antacids.
d. The patient will state that burning only occurs when eating foods high in acid content.

Answer 1

ANS: C
C. Outcomes should be measurable and realistic for the patient; they should include an appropriate time frame for achievement. A. Outcomes should not be vague or open to interpretation, with the use of subjective words such as "normal," "large," "small," or "moderate." B. Sleeping through the night may or may not be associated with the patient's problem. D. Stating that the burning only occurs when eating foods high in acid content is a patient observation that could be used for subjective data collection.