What are the five steps of the nursing process, in order?

• A. Assess, Plan, Diagnose, Implement, Evaluate
• B. Assess, Plan, Evaluate, Implement, Diagnose
• C. Assess, Execute, Plan, Implement, Evaluate
• D. Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Implement, Evaluate

Answer: (D)

The nursing process is a systematic, patient-centered problem-solving framework. You start with assessment to gather comprehensive data about the patient’s condition and needs. Then you move to diagnosis, using the data to identify actual or potential nursing problems that you can address with nursing care. Next comes planning, where you set priorities, establish measurable goals, and choose appropriate interventions. After planning comes implementation, which is carrying out the planned interventions. Finally, evaluation asks whether the patient achieved the desired outcomes and whether the plan needs to be revised.

This order matters because each step builds on the previous one: you can’t form accurate nursing diagnoses without data, you can’t plan effectively without a clear diagnosis, you can’t implement a plan you haven’t designed, and you can’t know if your actions were successful without evaluating the outcomes.