In the nursing process, which component typically follows nursing diagnosis?

• A. Evaluation
• B. Planning
• C. Assessment
• D. Implementation

Answer: (B)

Planning follows nursing diagnosis because after a problem is identified and defined, you need a clear plan to address it. This step translates the diagnosis into concrete, patient-centered outcomes and actions. It involves prioritizing problems, setting measurable outcomes (often SMART goals), selecting appropriate nursing interventions, and establishing a timeline and responsibilities. This plan provides the roadmap for care and directly guides the next phase, implementation, when those chosen interventions are carried out. After implementation, evaluation checks whether the outcomes were met and informs any necessary revisions. Earlier steps—assessment and diagnosis—gather and interpret data that the planning phase uses to determine what needs to be done.