Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - The Nursing Process Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - The Nursing Process related questions and content

The LPN states to an RN, 'I don't know why we have to follow a care plan. No one even uses it, and it just means more paperwork. What's the purpose?' What is the best response by the RN?

  • A. I agree with you, and we should talk to the manager about eliminating them from our required paperwork.'
  • B. I think it is something we have always done, and we have to continue to use them.'
  • C. It helps to provide a systematic method for us to plan and implement care so that we achieve positive outcomes.'
  • D. Health care providers use our care plans in order to see what we are doing for the clients.'
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The purpose of the nursing process is to provide a systematic method for nurses to plan and implement client care to achieve desired outcomes. The nursing process cannot be eliminated from the paperwork because nurses use the process to evaluate and update a client's care. It is an integral part of nursing practice. Stating that the nursing process is something nurses have always done and must continue to do so is a vague and incomplete answer. It does not give a rationale for using the nursing process. Although health care providers may review a nurse's care plan to see what is being done for the client, that is not the reason nurses use the nursing process or create care plans. The client's plan of care guides nursing care and provides a vehicle for assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and, if needed, the revision of care.