Nokea
The nurse is reviewing a patient’s database for significant changes and discovers that the patient has not voided in over 8 hours. The patient’s kidney function lab results are abnormal, and the patient’s oral intake has significantly decreased since previous shifts. Which step of the nursing process should the nurse proceed to after this review?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Diagnosis. The nurse should proceed to the diagnosis step of the nursing process after reviewing the patient's data. In this step, the nurse will analyze the information gathered to identify the patient's health problems and needs. Given the patient's lack of voiding, abnormal kidney function, and decreased oral intake, the nurse needs to determine the underlying issues contributing to these findings. This analysis will guide the nurse in developing a plan of care to address the patient's specific health concerns.
Choice B: Planning would be premature without a clear understanding of the patient's health problems, needs, and contributing factors. Choice C: Implementation would involve carrying out interventions without a thorough understanding of the patient's health issues. Choice D: Evaluation comes after the implementation of interventions to assess their effectiveness, which cannot be done without a clear diagnosis.