Which are the five steps of the nursing process in the correct order?

• A. Assessment, Planning, Diagnosis, Evaluation, Implementation
• B. Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
• C. Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
• D. Assessment, Diagnosis, Evaluation, Planning, Implementation

Answer: (B)

The nursing process follows a logical, data-driven sequence: assess the patient, identify nursing diagnoses, plan care, implement the plan, and evaluate the outcomes. Starting with assessment ensures you have a complete picture of the patient’s condition, including subjective and objective data. From that data, you can formulate nursing diagnoses that describe the patient’s responses to health problems, which then guide specific, prioritized planning. The plan sets realistic goals and selects appropriate interventions. Implementing those interventions puts the plan into action, and evaluation checks whether the goals were met and whether the plan needs adjustment. If goals aren’t achieved, you loop back to reassess and revise the plan. This order—Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation—is the standard sequence for delivering organized, patient-centered care.