Which element serves as the bridge between patient problems and actions?

• A. Nursing diagnoses
• B. Outcomes
• C. Planning
• D. Evaluation

Answer: (C)

Planning translates identified patient problems into concrete actions. After problems are identified and diagnosed, the planning step sets patient-centered goals and selects nursing interventions to address those problems, effectively turning what is wrong into what will be done. For example, if the problem is ineffective airway clearance, planning would establish goals such as the patient maintaining a clear breath sounds and demonstrating effective coughing, and would include interventions like incentive spirometry, positioning, hydration, and appropriate medications or therapies. Evaluation then checks whether those goals were met, and outcomes are defined during planning as the measurable targets to achieve. Nursing diagnoses identify the problems but do not specify the actions to take, outcomes are the targets set within planning, and evaluation assesses the effectiveness of the actions taken.