A nursing care plan outlines the nursing care to be provided to a patient. The creation of the plan is a stage of the nursing process. This is a set of action the nurse decides to implement to be able to resolve identified history and nursing problems in the family.

Characteristics of the nursing care plan

1. It focuses on actions which are designed to solve or minimize the existing problem.
2. It is a product of a deliberate systematic process.
3. It relates to the future.
4. It is based upon identifiable health and nursing problems.

Elements of the plan

In the USA, the nursing care plan consists of a NANDA nursing diagnosis with related factors and diagnostic criteria, nursing outcome classifications with specified outcomes to be achieved including deadlines, and nursing intervention classifications with specified interventions.

See also

• Nursing diagnoses
• Nursing practice
• Nursing process

Nursing