Care Plans

[wen-wen]

Help. I'm a new nursing student and have to give a presentation on the concept of care plans. I'm finding conflicting definitions and methods in the texts and references I've found. If anyone could give me a definition or simple explanaition of the general idea I would really appreciate it!

[princessRN4]

Per MOSBY'S Medical, Nursing & Allied Health DICTIONARY, 3rd Edition, 1990, pg. 826, a nursing care plan is: "a plan that is based on a nursing assessment and a nursing diagnosis, devised by a nurse. It has four essential components: identification of the nursing care problems and a statement of the nursing approach to solve those problems; the statement of the expected benefit to the patient; the statement of the specific actions by the nurse that reflect the nursing approach and achieve the goals specified; and the evaluation of the patient's response to nursing care and the readjustment of that care as required. The nursing care plan is begun when the patient is admitted to the health service, and, after the initial nursing assessment, a diagnosis is formulated and nursing orders are developed. The goal of the process is to ensure that nursing care is consistent with the patient's needs and progress towards self-care. A written nursing care plan should be a part of every patient's chart; an abbreviated form should be available for quick reference, as in a Rand or Kardex file."

Good luck with your assignment and with your nursing education.