Which phase of the nursing process is primarily concerned with identifying patient needs and organizing data?

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

Answer: (A)

Identifying patient needs and organizing data corresponds to the assessment phase. In this stage, the nurse gathers comprehensive information from the patient, family, and medical records—combining subjective data from interviews with objective data from exams and tests—to create a complete data base. The goal is to identify actual or potential health concerns and establish a baseline, which then guides the rest of the nursing process. This foundational data collection and analysis set the stage for the nursing diagnoses that follow, as well as the planning of goals and interventions. The other phases shift focus to interpreting data to define problems, planning and implementing care, and evaluating outcomes rather than the initial collection and organization of information.