The process of creating a formal plan of care for a patient is called Nursing Care Planning. This term specifically refers to the systematic process whereby nurses identify patient needs, set goals, and determine the appropriate interventions to provide the best possible outcomes for patients. Nursing Care Planning encompasses both the assessment of patient data and the identification of nursing diagnoses, which serve as the foundation for developing the plan.
In this process, nurses collaborate with patients, families, and, when applicable, other healthcare professionals to establish individualized care tailored to the specific health conditions and preferences of the patient. This plan is an essential component of delivering coordinated and comprehensive care, ensuring that all aspects of the patient's needs are addressed effectively.
Other options refer to different aspects of nursing practice. The Nursing Assessment is the initial phase where data is collected about the patient's health status. Nursing Intervention refers to the actions taken to address identified needs during patient care. Nursing Diagnosis involves the identification of health problems based on the assessment data. Together, these processes contribute to successful Nursing Care Planning but do not define the act of creating the formal care plan itself.