Editing Fundamentals of Nursing (section)

=== Planning ===

Planning sets priorities and writes measurable, patient centered outcomes.

Priority setting frameworks:
* '''Airway, breathing, circulation.''' Airway first, always. A patient who cannot maintain an airway outranks a patient who is hemorrhaging, who outranks a patient in pain.
* '''Maslow's hierarchy.''' Physiologic needs before safety, safety before love and belonging, then esteem, then self actualization. Use this when no ABC problem is present.
* '''Acute before chronic, unstable before stable, unexpected before expected.''' New onset confusion in an older adult is a priority. Chronic stable joint pain is not.
* '''Safety and risk of harm.''' A problem that will cause imminent injury outranks one that will not.

Outcome statements should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time limited. They describe the patient's behavior, not the nurse's action. "The patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker and standby assistance by postoperative day two" is an outcome. "The nurse will ambulate the patient" is an intervention.

Care plan development, revision, and evaluation are registered nurse responsibilities. Licensed practical nurses contribute to and carry out the plan.