Which step follows assessment and diagnosis?

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

Answer: (B)

After completing assessment and establishing diagnoses, you move into planning. This step is about setting measurable, time-bound outcomes and outlining how to achieve them through specific actions. In pharmacology nursing, planning translates into deciding which medications and nonpharmacologic strategies to use, prioritizing problems, and creating a coordinated care plan with clearly defined goals, dosing decisions, monitoring plans, and patient education.

The plan specifies what to do during implementation, including what to administer, when, and how to monitor for therapeutic effects and safety (such as adverse effects, interactions, and lab or vital-sign monitoring). It also anticipates possible complications and outlines contingency actions. Evaluation comes after implementation, to determine whether the goals were met and to revise the plan if needed.