Which question is part of the key questions used to develop and evaluate the plan of care?

• A. What is the nurse trying to accomplish?
• B. How long is the shift?
• C. Which room is the patient in?
• D. What is the color of the chart?

Answer: (A)

Focusing on what the nurse is trying to accomplish centers the plan on clear, patient-centered goals and measurable outcomes. This question identifies the purpose of the care actions, which shapes the selection of interventions and sets the criteria for evaluation. When you know the desired outcomes, you can choose appropriate nursing actions and decide how to judge whether progress is being made, and when to adjust the plan.

The other options pertain to logistics or documentation rather than the care goals themselves. Shifts, room assignments, or chart appearance don’t determine what outcomes you’re aiming for or how you’ll assess progress.