Definition of Nursing Process

According to WHO (2977) the "nursing process" is a term applied to a system of characteristic nursing interventions in the health of individuals, families and/or communities. It involves the use of scientific methods for identifying the health needs of the patient/client/family or community and for using these to select those which can most effectively be met by nursing care, it also includes planning to meet these needs, provide the care and evaluate the results. The nurse in collaboration with other members of the health care team and the individual or groups being served, defines objectives, sets priorities, identifies care to be given and mobilises resources. He/she then provides the nursing services either directly or indirectly. Subsequently, he/she evaluates the outcome. The information feedback from evaluation of outcome should initiate desirable changes in subsequent interventions in similar nursing
care situations. As you know that the nursing process has four components, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating. This process incorporates the analysis of data and nursing diagnosis as a part of the assessment. We also conceptualise nursing process as a problem-solving process. It consists of five operational phases; Assessment, nursing diagnosis, plan formulation, implementation and evaluation. It involves both cognitive and operational skills.