A definition please

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Since there is no RN-BSN forum I wondered if anyone here can tell me the difference between a goal and an objective? Thanks because they seem the same to me!

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In mygraduate music therapy program, goals were more categorical, a little bit more vague while objectives where much more specific. Some examples of goals:

Improve memory recall

Maintain skin integrity

Increase reminisence

Improve impulse controll

Objectives are much more specific and define actual measureable behavior with frequency of behavior.

Client will state 3 reasons for checking their blood pressure.

Client will identify at least one side effect of medication each day

Objectives are utilized to reach goals. But to make things more confusing, each discipline and source will have their own way of defining goals and objectives. Care plans, for example, call their objectives goals.

This is the way I understand it. I would appreciate it if anyone could clarify this for me.

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Thank you for the details, I appreciate any clarification. I just forgot these terms as I have been out of school for a year and I already am in trouble!

I have to formulate a healthcare promotion project for the nurses at my work and need to figure out the goals and then objectives related to them(so you see what I mean). This helps though. The objectives are more concrete then while the goals are more general?

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goals are places/things where you want to go/get. objectives are things accomplisshed on the way to the goal, and/or once there.

goal: to get pt off vent

objectives: no sob

pulse ox good

place pt on weaning protocol

encourage deep breathing

address anxiety

support pt while weaning

professionally speaking...

goal: to get msn

objectives: teach new collegues

manage

more opportunites

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