Characteristics of the nursing process

The nursing process is a cyclical and ongoing process that can end at any stage if the problem is solved. The nursing process exists for every problem that the patient has, and for every element of patient care, rather than once for each patient. The nurse's evaluation of care will lead to changes in the implementation of the care and the patient's needs are likely to change during their stay in hospital as their health either improves or deteriorates. The nursing process not only focuses on ways to improve the patient's physical needs, but also on social and emotional needs as well.

• Cyclic and dynamic
• Goal directed and client centered
• Interpersonal and collaborative
• Universally applicable
• Systematic
  

The nursing process is not something foreign or unusually complex. On the contrary, we use the nursing process method on a daily basis without even realizing it. For example, a trip to the gas station to get fuel requires Assessing the various prices and the number of people waiting to get gas among other things. A subsequent decision, or Diagnosis, is made based on the former criteria. This may include pulling into the gas station to fuel up or going down the road for better prices and/or less of a crowd. The price is right and there is not much of a crowd, we are pulling in. Now the Planning can take place. This may include which pump to use, how much gas to put in the tank, whether or not to clean the windows along with other things. We are at the pump and ready to fuel up. We must now Implement what we planned prior to pulling up to the pump. We have pulled up on the passenger side because the gas tank resides on this side, part of our plan. We have also given ourselves enough room to exit without being blocked in by another vehicle, part of our plan also. We now unscrew the gas cap and begin fueling or Implementing what we planned. Things went well. We are fueled up and have exited the gas station without complication. Our Evaluation of the trip to the gas station would be a good one. We may choose to use this method in the future. The Nursing process is that simple in theory. However, as a nurse, the nursing process tool will be used for more complex and difficult situations but is applied the same way as the gas station analogy.