Which statement best describes Nursing Assessment?

• A. First step in the nursing process, involving data collection from primary and secondary sources
• B. Final evaluation of patient outcomes
• C. A plan to implement nursing interventions
• D. A diagnosis based on laboratory data only

Answer: (A)

Nursing assessment is the first phase of the nursing process, focused on gathering comprehensive data about a patient’s health status. This involves collecting information from the patient (the primary source) as well as from secondary sources such as family members, medical records, and other members of the health care team. The goal is to establish a baseline and identify actual or potential health problems, psychosocial needs, and factors that could influence care. This rich, holistic data set then guides the subsequent steps—nursing diagnoses, planning, implementation, and evaluation. It’s broader than lab results alone and includes subjective experiences, observable findings from the exam, and relevant records. It isn’t the final evaluation, it isn’t a plan to implement interventions, and it isn’t a diagnosis based solely on laboratory data.