When a patient-centered goal has not been met in the projected time frame, what is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

When a patient-centered goal has not been met in the projected time frame, what is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

• A. Rewrite the plan using different interventions
• B. Continue the same care plan until the goal is met
• C. Repeat the entire sequence of the nursing process to discover changes needed
• D. Eliminate the goal

Answer: (C)

When a patient-centered goal isn’t met within the expected time, the plan must be reassessed and adjusted. This means rechecking the patient’s current status, reviewing progress data, confirming or refining the diagnosis if needed, and then starting the nursing process again to set new, realistic goals and choose appropriate interventions. Repeating the full sequence ensures you consider all factors—including new information, patient preferences, and barriers—and align the plan with the patient’s evolving needs. Continuing the same plan ignores new data and delaying changes, while eliminating the goal isn’t appropriate because goals guide care and evaluation.

When a patient-centered goal isn’t met within the expected time, the plan must be reassessed and adjusted. This means rechecking the patient’s current status, reviewing progress data, confirming or refining the diagnosis if needed, and then starting the nursing process again to set new, realistic goals and choose appropriate interventions. Repeating the full sequence ensures you consider all factors—including new information, patient preferences, and barriers—and align the plan with the patient’s evolving needs. Continuing the same plan ignores new data and delaying changes, while eliminating the goal isn’t appropriate because goals guide care and evaluation.