Which component describes the goals in the nursing process?

• A. Plan.
• B. Interventions.
• C. Goals.
• D. Assessment.

Answer: (C)

Goals describe the desired patient outcomes in the nursing process. During planning, the nurse takes what was found in assessment to set specific, measurable, and time-bound targets the patient is expected to achieve. These goal statements provide the criteria for success and guide what care will be provided. They are patient-centered and realistic, and they drive the selection of interventions aimed at reaching them. For example, a goal might state that pain will be reduced to a specific level within a set timeframe, or that mobility will improve to a target range by a certain date. The plan of care encompasses these goals along with the chosen actions, while interventions are the concrete steps to reach them and assessment is the data collection that helps determine progress toward the goals.