Planning in the nursing process is which step?

• A. First step
• B. Second step
• C. Third step
• D. Fourth step

Answer: (C)

Planning is the stage in which the nurse sets patient-centered goals and designs the care plan to achieve them. It begins once data have been collected and analyzed, and problems identified, so it uses information from assessment and diagnosis. In planning, the nurse prioritizes problems, collaborates with the patient to establish measurable outcomes, and selects interventions with clear timeframes. The plan then guides what will be done during implementation and how progress will be evaluated. So planning sits after assessment and diagnosis and before implementation and evaluation.