During the evaluation phase, what is primarily compared to determine outcomes?

• A. Assesses patient satisfaction with care.
• B. Prioritizes nursing diagnoses.
• C. Compares the patient’s current health status with the desired outcome.
• D. Develops a plan for future treatment.

Answer: (C)

During evaluation, you assess how the patient actually responds to therapy and compare that response with the predefined desired outcomes. This comparison shows whether the treatment achieved its goals, and it guides decisions about continuing, adjusting, or stopping the medication plan. In pharmacology, you’d look at symptom changes, vital signs, lab values, adverse effects, and functional status against the targets set in the plan. Planning for future treatment and prioritizing diagnoses occur in earlier steps, while patient satisfaction, though important, is not the primary measure used to determine whether outcomes were met.