Which provides the basis for planning patient care?

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

Answer: (A)

Identifying the nursing diagnosis sets the stage for planning patient care because it frames the problems you will address and guides the selection of goals and interventions. The diagnosis translates assessment data into a defined patient problem—actual or potential responses to health conditions or treatments—so the plan can target those specific issues. In pharmacology, this means the plan centers on how medications will help the patient, what to monitor for (therapeutic effects and adverse effects), and what patient teaching or safety measures are needed to address the diagnosed problem.

Outcomes describe the desired end state to achieve with the plan, so they come from the diagnosed problem. Planning is the process of forming the plan itself, using the diagnosis to set actionable goals and choose interventions. Evaluation assesses whether the outcomes were met and informs any needed revisions.