Outcomes or goals in the nursing process provide which type of criteria?

• A. General statements about hope.
• B. Specific, measurable criteria with a defined time frame.
• C. Only process outcomes, not patient outcomes.
• D. Financial cost reduction.

Answer: (B)

Outcomes or goals specify what will change in the patient and are described with precision. They should be specific, measurable, and include a defined time frame, so you can clearly determine if progress is being made and when the goal is reached. This clarity lets you evaluate the effectiveness of the care plan, guide adjustments to interventions, and document results. Vague statements about hope don’t provide a way to measure progress, process outcomes don’t capture patient status changes, and reducing costs is not the focus of patient-centered outcome criteria.