action plan example for nursing

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How to write an action plan with a nurse or nursing student, simon downs teaching fellow and paramedic field lead, school of health sciences, faculty of health and medical sciences, university of surrey, guildford, england, deanna hodge teaching fellow and lead for practice education, university of surrey, guildford, england.

• To enhance your understanding of the purpose of an action plan to support a nursing student or nurse

• To learn about the procedure for writing an action plan with a nursing student or nurse

• To know which stakeholders to involve in the development of an action plan

Action plans are commonly used in nursing practice and nurse education to support nurses and nursing students to meet specific objectives, particularly if they face challenges in achieving the level of knowledge and/or skills required by their role or course. Action plans may be used, for example, with preregistration or post-registration nursing students during a placement or with registered nurses for whom there are concerns regarding their professional practice. In that context, an action plan is essentially a set of objectives that the nurse or student is asked to work towards.

• The objectives set in an action plan should be SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.

• An action plan should feature resources and activities that will support the person to achieve the objectives, as well as the evidence needed to demonstrate successful completion and a time frame.

• An action plan is one strategy that can be used to support nurses or nursing students to progress in their practice or learning.

‘How to’ articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of:

• How this article might improve your practice when writing an action plan with a nurse or nursing student.

• How you could use this information to educate colleagues on writing an effective action plan with a nurse or nursing student.

Nursing Standard . doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e11839

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@UniSurrey999

[email protected]

None declared

Downs S, Hodge D (2022) How to write an action plan with a nurse or nursing student. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e11839

Please note that information provided by Nursing Standard is not sufficient to make the reader competent to perform the task. All clinical skills should be formally assessed according to policy and procedures. It is the nurse’s responsibility to ensure their practice remains up to date and reflects the latest evidence

Published online: 08 August 2022

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Nursing Action Plan

In any type of field of work, especially the medical field, it is always good to have a plan. To plan about what you may want to do and how you are going to do them. But rather than just limiting it to planning, a good action plan is also important. Action plans for nursing  are simply objectives that nurses must comply with to reach the goals they made for the day or the week. Think of it like a lesson plan for teachers, except for nurses, it’s a more practical approach. To know more about nursing action plans for clinics, hospitals or for students, check the article and examples below. 

10+ Nursing Action Plan Examples

1. nursing action plan template.

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2. Standard Nursing Action Plan

3. Nursing-Centered Action Plan

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4. Nursing Home Action Plan

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8. Nursing Leadership Action Plan

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9. Team Nursing Action Plan

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10. Professional Nursing Action Plan

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11. School of Nursing Action Plan

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Definition of Action

An action is the process or the act of doing something, especially when dealing with problems. The act of doing something to solve a problem or an issue. The process of doing something for a purpose. A way of doing something like dealing with dilemmas. The act of moving to deal with happenings like exciting or important situations. The effect of something happening due to working for it.

Definition of Plan

A plan is a set of arrangements about what to do in the future. A type of decision about what you want to do. A plan is something you thought about and how you are going to do something. The act of planning something before doing the action. A set of throughout decisions or a set of arrangements for something very important. A detailed idea carefully planned for emergencies or for the future.

Definition of Action Plan

An action plan is a detailed list of planned activities. A list of tasks that you need to reach. It is a detailed sequence of steps that you must take to complete a set of tasks. A list of objectives that you need to complete to reach your goals. These activities must be performed well to successfully attain them. In addition to that, these lists help you prioritize which set of activities you should do first and the steps that take them. An action plan includes your objectives, detailed planning, and the actions or the steps that you took to achieve them.

Definition of Nursing Action Plan

A nursing action plan is a type of plan that determines the care and treatment required by a patient. An action plan that lists down the kinds of treatment that should be catered to their patients. This action plan helps nurses provide well rounded care. As well as it allows the nurse to know which type of care is medically necessary and which one works for the other. As not all patients have the same care as the other. Nursing action plans are a roadmap for nurses to understand which type of care is needed for which type of patient. Lastly, this action plan would help them not get confused nor misread which patient needs this and which patient needs that.

Importance of Action Plan

The importance of making an action plan is, you can make a list of all the tasks you need to do. As well as the objectives you need to meet. Your action plan gives you a framework for how you complete the lists one by one. Rather than having to list down all the goals you want to accomplish, which may end in rambles, an action plan makes it easier for you to place them in order of importance. However, action plans differ from to do lists and should not be mixed with one another. A to-do-list is a daily list you need to do in a single day, while an action plan is the tasks that you finish at a given time.

Importance of Nursing Action Plan

The importance of making a nursing action plan is it provides the nurse the correct or the precise information about the patient. What type of care does this patient need? The information that a nurse may need. Either if you are working in a hospital, or a clinic or a student is all found in the action plan. The nursing action plan also helps you understand the role you play in the treatment of a patient. A nursing action plan has all the information placed for providing a safe and clear roadmap of the patient’s treatment. As well as it helps other nurses understand this is how to care for the patient. To avoid any problems in the future.

Tools Used for a Nursing Action Plan

Tips for writing an action plan.

• Write out your objectives
• Make them specific and realistic
• Plan on a time frame for your goals
• Add milestones to your action plan
• Update your action plan

What is the use of the milestone for a nursing action plan?

The milestones for a nursing action plan are the small successes a nurse has done. They are optional, but can also be used as a motivation. Especially for nursing students who want to make small but significant outputs. Milestones can also be helpful for nurses working in clinics and hospitals as a reminder that what they have done has been successful.

Why is it important to update your action plan?

Updating your action plan not only helps you stay on top of your objectives, but it also helps you see how far you have gone. How far you have gone to succeeding your goals. Each milestone or each achievement you have made progress, you have to update your action plan.

How do I reach my goal with a limited amount of time?

Your time frame should be realistic. Think about how long it will take for you to reach a certain goal. Avoid having to write a time frame that is too short or too long. Your time frame also matters because it is how you value your time in achieving one of your goals in your action plan.

Who is the right audience for my nursing action plan?

If you are a student working in a clinic or a hospital, your action plan must cater to your patients needs. If your patient needs this specific kind of treatment, write that down in your action plan as a note.

A nursing action plan is like a road map for nurses. Whether you are working at a clinic, at a hospital or you are a student learning about your course. Your action plan is your road map to achieving your goals. But you must also remember that it must cater to the needs of your patients as well as your own.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Create a study plan for final exams in high school

Develop a project timeline for a middle school science fair.

Nursing Care Plans (NCP) Ultimate Guide and List

Writing the  best   nursing care plan  requires a step-by-step approach to complete the parts needed for a care plan correctly. This tutorial will walk you through developing a care plan. This guide has the ultimate database and list of nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis samples  for our student nurses and professional nurses to use—all for free! Care plan components, examples, objectives, and purposes are included with a detailed guide on writing an excellent nursing care plan or a template for your unit. 

Table of Contents

Standardized care plans, individualized care plans, purposes of a nursing care plan, three-column format, four-column format, student care plans, step 1: data collection or assessment, step 2: data analysis and organization, step 3: formulating your nursing diagnoses, step 4: setting priorities, short-term and long-term goals, components of goals and desired outcomes, types of nursing interventions, step 7: providing rationale, step 8: evaluation, step 9: putting it on paper, basic nursing and general care plans, surgery and perioperative care plans, cardiac care plans, endocrine and metabolic care plans, gastrointestinal, hematologic and lymphatic, infectious diseases, integumentary, maternal and newborn care plans, mental health and psychiatric, musculoskeletal, neurological, pediatric nursing care plans, reproductive, respiratory, recommended resources, references and sources, what is a nursing care plan.

A  nursing care plan (NCP)  is a formal process that correctly identifies existing needs and recognizes a client’s potential needs or risks. Care plans provide a way of communication among nurses, their patients, and other healthcare providers to achieve healthcare outcomes. Without the nursing care planning process, the quality and consistency of patient care would be lost.

Nursing care planning begins when the client is admitted to the agency and is continuously updated throughout in response to the client’s changes in condition and evaluation of goal achievement. Planning and delivering individualized or patient-centered care is the basis for excellence in nursing practice .

Types of Nursing Care Plans

Care plans can be informal or formal: An informal nursing care plan is a strategy of action that exists in the nurse ‘s mind. A  formal nursing care plan is a written or computerized guide that organizes the client’s care information.

Formal care plans are further subdivided into standardized care plans and individualized care plans:  Standardized care plans specify the nursing care for groups of clients with everyday needs.  Individualized care plans are tailored to meet a specific client’s unique needs or needs that are not addressed by the standardized care plan.

Standardized care plans are pre-developed guides by the nursing staff and health care agencies to ensure that patients with a particular condition receive consistent care. These care plans are used to ensure that minimally acceptable criteria are met and to promote the efficient use of the nurse’s time by removing the need to develop common activities that are done repeatedly for many of the clients on a nursing unit.

Standardized care plans are not tailored to a patient’s specific needs and goals and can provide a starting point for developing an individualized care plan .

Care plans listed in this guide are standard care plans which can serve as a framework or direction to develop an individualized care plan.

An individualized care plan care plan involves tailoring a standardized care plan to meet the specific needs and goals of the individual client and use approaches shown to be effective for a particular client. This approach allows more personalized and holistic care better suited to the client’s unique needs, strengths, and goals.

Additionally, individualized care plans can improve patient satisfaction . When patients feel that their care is tailored to their specific needs, they are more likely to feel heard and valued, leading to increased satisfaction with their care. This is particularly important in today’s healthcare environment , where patient satisfaction is increasingly used as a quality measure.

Tips on how to individualize a nursing care plan:

• Perform a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s health, history, health status, and desired goals.
• Involve the patient in the care planning process by asking them about their health goals and preferences. By involving the client, nurses can ensure that the care plan is aligned with the patient’s goals and preferences which can improve patient engagement and compliance with the care plan.
• Perform an ongoing assessment and evaluation as the patient’s health and goals can change. Adjust the care plan accordingly.

The following are the goals and objectives of writing a nursing care plan:

• Promote evidence-based nursing care and render pleasant and familiar conditions in hospitals or health centers.
• Support holistic care , which involves the whole person, including physical, psychological, social, and spiritual, with the management and prevention of the disease.
• Establish programs such as care pathways and care bundles. Care pathways involve a team effort to reach a consensus regarding standards of care and expected outcomes. In contrast, care bundles are related to best practices concerning care for a specific disease.
• Identify and distinguish goals and expected outcomes.
• Review communication and documentation of the care plan.
• Measure nursing care.

The following are the purposes and importance of writing a nursing care plan:

• Defines nurse’s role. Care plans help identify nurses’ unique and independent role in attending to clients’ overall health and well-being without relying entirely on a physician’s orders or interventions.
• Provides direction for individualized care of the client.  It serves as a roadmap for the care that will be provided to the patient and allows the nurse to think critically in developing interventions directly tailored to the individual.
• Continuity of care. Nurses from different shifts or departments can use the data to render the same quality and type of interventions to care for clients, therefore allowing clients to receive the most benefit from treatment.
• Coordinate care. Ensures that all members of the healthcare team are aware of the patient’s care needs and the actions that need to be taken to meet those needs preventing gaps in care.
• Documentation . It should accurately outline which observations to make, what nursing actions to carry out, and what instructions the client or family members require. If nursing care is not documented correctly in the care plan, there is no evidence the care was provided.
• Serves as a guide for assigning a specific staff to a specific client.  There are instances when a client’s care needs to be assigned to staff with particular and precise skills.
• Monitor progress. To help track the patient’s progress and make necessary adjustments to the care plan as the patient’s health status and goals change.
• Serves as a guide for reimbursement.  The insurance companies use the medical record to determine what they will pay concerning the hospital care received by the client.
• Defines client’s goals. It benefits nurses and clients by involving them in their treatment and care.

A nursing care plan (NCP) usually includes nursing diagnoses , client problems, expected outcomes, nursing interventions , and rationales . These components are elaborated on below:

• Client health assessment , medical results, and diagnostic reports are the first steps to developing a care plan. In particular, client assessment relates to the following areas and abilities: physical, emotional, sexual, psychosocial, cultural, spiritual/transpersonal, cognitive, functional, age-related, economic, and environmental. Information in this area can be subjective and objective.
• Nursing diagnosis . A nursing diagnosis is a statement that describes the patient’s health issue or concern. It is based on the information gathered about the patient’s health status during the assessment.
• Expected client outcomes. These are specific goals that will be achieved through nursing interventions . These may be long and short-term.
• Nursing interventions . These are specific actions that will be taken to address the nursing diagnosis and achieve expected outcomes . They should be based on best practices and evidence-based guidelines.
• Rationales. These are evidence-based explanations for the nursing interventions specified.
• Evaluation . These includes plans for monitoring and evaluating a patient’s progress and making necessary adjustments to the care plan as the patient’s health status and goals change.

Care Plan Formats

Nursing care plan formats are usually categorized or organized into four columns: (1) nursing diagnoses, (2) desired outcomes and goals, (3) nursing interventions, and (4) evaluation. Some agencies use a three-column plan where goals and evaluation are in the same column. Other agencies have a five-column plan that includes a column for assessment cues.

The three-column plan has a column for nursing diagnosis, outcomes and evaluation, and interventions.

This format includes columns for nursing diagnosis, goals and outcomes, interventions, and evaluation.

Below is a document containing sample templates for the different nursing care plan formats. Please feel free to edit, modify, and share the template.

Download: Printable Nursing Care Plan Templates and Formats

Student care plans are more lengthy and detailed than care plans used by working nurses because they serve as a learning activity for the student nurse.

Care plans by student nurses are usually required to be handwritten and have an additional column for “Rationale” or “Scientific Explanation” after the nursing interventions column. Rationales are scientific principles that explain the reasons for selecting a particular nursing intervention.

Writing a Nursing Care Plan

How do you write a nursing care plan (NCP)? Just follow the steps below to develop a care plan for your client.

The first step in writing a nursing care plan is to create a client database using assessment techniques and data collection methods ( physical assessment , health history , interview, medical records review, and diagnostic studies). A client database includes all the health information gathered . In this step, the nurse can identify the related or risk factors and defining characteristics that can be used to formulate a nursing diagnosis. Some agencies or nursing schools have specific assessment formats you can use.

Critical thinking is key in patient assessment, integrating knowledge across sciences and professional guidelines to inform evaluations. This process, crucial for complex clinical decision-making , aims to identify patients’ healthcare needs effectively, leveraging a supportive environment and reliable information

Now that you have information about the client’s health, analyze, cluster, and organize the data to formulate your nursing diagnosis, priorities, and desired outcomes.

Nursing diagnoses are a uniform way of identifying, focusing on and dealing with specific client needs and responses to actual and high-risk problems. Actual or potential health problems that can be prevented or resolved by independent nursing intervention are termed nursing diagnoses.

We’ve detailed the steps on how to formulate your nursing diagnoses in this guide:  Nursing Diagnosis (NDx): Complete Guide and List .

Setting priorities involves establishing a preferential sequence for addressing nursing diagnoses and interventions. In this step, the nurse and the client begin planning which of the identified problems requires attention first. Diagnoses can be ranked and grouped as having a high, medium, or low priority. Life-threatening problems should be given high priority.

A nursing diagnosis encompasses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and helps to prioritize and plan care based on patient-centered outcomes. In 1943, Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchy based on basic fundamental needs innate to all individuals. Basic physiological needs/goals must be met before higher needs/goals can be achieved, such as self-esteem and self-actualization. Physiological and safety needs are the basis for implementing nursing care and interventions. Thus, they are at the base of Maslow’s pyramid, laying the foundation for physical and emotional health.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Basic Physiological Needs: Nutrition (water and food), elimination (Toileting), airway (suction)-breathing (oxygen)-circulation (pulse, cardiac monitor, blood pressure ) (ABCs), sleep , sex, shelter, and exercise.
• Safety and Security: Injury prevention ( side rails , call lights, hand hygiene , isolation , suicide precautions, fall precautions, car seats, helmets, seat belts), fostering a climate of trust and safety ( therapeutic relationship ), patient education (modifiable risk factors for stroke , heart disease).
• Love and Belonging: Foster supportive relationships, methods to avoid social isolation ( bullying ), employ active listening techniques, therapeutic communication , and sexual intimacy.
• Self-Esteem: Acceptance in the community, workforce, personal achievement, sense of control or empowerment, accepting one’s physical appearance or body habitus.
• Self-Actualization: Empowering environment, spiritual growth, ability to recognize the point of view of others, reaching one’s maximum potential.

The client’s health values and beliefs, priorities, resources available, and urgency are factors the nurse must consider when assigning priorities. Involve the client in the process to enhance cooperation.

Step 5: Establishing Client Goals and Desired Outcomes

After assigning priorities for your nursing diagnosis, the nurse and the client set goals for each determined priority. Goals or desired outcomes describe what the nurse hopes to achieve by implementing the nursing interventions derived from the client’s nursing diagnoses. Goals provide direction for planning interventions, serve as criteria for evaluating client progress, enable the client and nurse to determine which problems have been resolved, and help motivate the client and nurse by providing a sense of achievement.

One overall goal is determined for each nursing diagnosis. The terms “ goal outcomes “ and “expected outcome s” are often used interchangeably.

According to Hamilton and Price (2013), goals should be SMART . SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-oriented goals.

• Specific. It should be clear, significant, and sensible for a goal to be effective.
• Measurable or Meaningful. Making sure a goal is measurable makes it easier to monitor progress and know when it reaches the desired result.
• Attainable or Action-Oriented. Goals should be flexible but remain possible.
• Realistic or Results-Oriented. This is important to look forward to effective and successful outcomes by keeping in mind the available resources at hand.
• Timely or Time-Oriented. Every goal needs a designated time parameter, a deadline to focus on, and something to work toward.

Hogston (2011) suggests using the REEPIG standards to ensure that care is of the highest standards. By this means, nursing care plans should be:

• Realistic. Given available resources. 
• Explicitly stated. Be clear about precisely what must be done, so there is no room for misinterpretation of instructions.
• Evidence-based. That there is research that supports what is being proposed. 
• Prioritized. The most urgent problems are being dealt with first. 
• Involve. Involve both the patient and other members of the multidisciplinary team who are going to be involved in implementing the care.
• Goal-centered. That the care planned will meet and achieve the goal set.

Goals and expected outcomes must be measurable and client-centered.  Goals are constructed by focusing on problem prevention, resolution, and rehabilitation. Goals can be short-term or long-term . Most goals are short-term in an acute care setting since much of the nurse’s time is spent on the client’s immediate needs. Long-term goals are often used for clients who have chronic health problems or live at home, in nursing homes, or in extended-care facilities.

• Short-term goal . A statement distinguishing a shift in behavior that can be completed immediately, usually within a few hours or days.
• Long-term goal . Indicates an objective to be completed over a longer period, usually weeks or months.
• Discharge planning . Involves naming long-term goals, therefore promoting continued restorative care and problem resolution through home health, physical therapy, or various other referral sources.

Goals or desired outcome statements usually have four components: a subject, a verb, conditions or modifiers, and a criterion of desired performance.

• Subject. The subject is the client, any part of the client, or some attribute of the client (i.e., pulse, temperature, urinary output). That subject is often omitted in writing goals because it is assumed that the subject is the client unless indicated otherwise (family, significant other ).
• Verb. The verb specifies an action the client is to perform, for example, what the client is to do, learn, or experience.
• Conditions or modifiers. These are the “what, when, where, or how” that are added to the verb to explain the circumstances under which the behavior is to be performed.
• Criterion of desired performance. The criterion indicates the standard by which a performance is evaluated or the level at which the client will perform the specified behavior. These are optional.

When writing goals and desired outcomes, the nurse should follow these tips:

• Write goals and outcomes in terms of client responses and not as activities of the nurse. Begin each goal with “Client will […]” help focus the goal on client behavior and responses.
• Avoid writing goals on what the nurse hopes to accomplish, and focus on what the client will do.
• Use observable, measurable terms for outcomes. Avoid using vague words that require interpretation or judgment of the observer.
• Desired outcomes should be realistic for the client’s resources, capabilities, limitations, and on the designated time span of care.
• Ensure that goals are compatible with the therapies of other professionals.
• Ensure that each goal is derived from only one nursing diagnosis. Keeping it this way facilitates evaluation of care by ensuring that planned nursing interventions are clearly related to the diagnosis set.
• Lastly, make sure that the client considers the goals important and values them to ensure cooperation.

Step 6: Selecting Nursing Interventions

Nursing interventions are activities or actions that a nurse performs to achieve client goals. Interventions chosen should focus on eliminating or reducing the etiology of the priority nursing problem or diagnosis. As for risk nursing problems, interventions should focus on reducing the client’s risk factors. In this step, nursing interventions are identified and written during the planning step of the nursing process ; however, they are actually performed during the implementation step.

Nursing interventions can be independent, dependent, or collaborative:

• Independent nursing interventions are activities that nurses are licensed to initiate based on their sound judgement and skills. Includes: ongoing assessment, emotional support, providing comfort , teaching, physical care, and making referrals to other health care professionals.
• Dependent nursing interventions are activities carried out under the physician’s orders or supervision. Includes orders to direct the nurse to provide medications, intravenous therapy , diagnostic tests, treatments, diet, and activity or rest. Assessment and providing explanation while administering medical orders are also part of the dependent nursing interventions.
• Collaborative interventions are actions that the nurse carries out in collaboration with other health team members, such as physicians, social workers, dietitians, and therapists. These actions are developed in consultation with other health care professionals to gain their professional viewpoint.

Nursing interventions should be:

• Safe and appropriate for the client’s age, health, and condition.
• Achievable with the resources and time available.
• Inline with the client’s values, culture, and beliefs.
• Inline with other therapies.
• Based on nursing knowledge and experience or knowledge from relevant sciences.

When writing nursing interventions, follow these tips:

• Write the date and sign the plan. The date the plan is written is essential for evaluation, review, and future planning. The nurse’s signature demonstrates accountability.
• Nursing interventions should be specific and clearly stated, beginning with an action verb indicating what the nurse is expected to do. Action verb starts the intervention and must be precise. Qualifiers of how, when, where, time, frequency, and amount provide the content of the planned activity. For example: “ Educate parents on how to take temperature and notify of any changes,” or “ Assess urine for color, amount, odor, and turbidity.”
• Use only abbreviations accepted by the institution.

Rationales, also known as scientific explanations, explain why the nursing intervention was chosen for the NCP.

Rationales do not appear in regular care plans. They are included to assist nursing students in associating the pathophysiological and psychological principles with the selected nursing intervention.

Evaluation is a planned, ongoing, purposeful activity in which the client’s progress towards achieving goals or desired outcomes is assessed, and the effectiveness of the nursing care plan (NCP). Evaluation is an essential aspect of the nursing process because the conclusions drawn from this step determine whether the nursing intervention should be terminated, continued, or changed.

The client’s care plan is documented according to hospital policy and becomes part of the client’s permanent medical record, which may be reviewed by the oncoming nurse. Different nursing programs have different care plan formats. Most are designed so that the student systematically proceeds through the interrelated steps of the nursing process , and many use a five-column format.

Nursing Care Plan List

This section lists the sample nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnoses for various diseases and health conditions. They are segmented into categories:

Miscellaneous nursing care plans examples that don’t fit other categories:

Care plans that involve surgical intervention .

Nursing care plans about the different diseases of the cardiovascular system :

Nursing care plans (NCP) related to the endocrine system and metabolism:

Care plans (NCP) covering the disorders of the gastrointestinal and digestive system :

Care plans related to the hematologic and lymphatic system:

NCPs for communicable and infectious diseases:

All about disorders and conditions affecting the integumentary system:

Nursing care plans about the care of the pregnant mother and her infant. See care plans for maternity and obstetric nursing:

Care plans for mental health and psychiatric nursing:

Care plans related to the musculoskeletal system:

Nursing care plans (NCP) for related to nervous system disorders:

Care plans relating to eye disorders:

Nursing care plans (NCP) for pediatric conditions and diseases:

Care plans related to the reproductive and sexual function disorders:

Care plans for respiratory system disorders:

Care plans related to the kidney and urinary system disorders:

Recommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources.

Disclosure: Included below are affiliate links from Amazon at no additional cost from you. We may earn a small commission from your purchase. For more information, check out our privacy policy .

Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care We love this book because of its evidence-based approach to nursing interventions. This care plan handbook uses an easy, three-step system to guide you through client assessment, nursing diagnosis, and care planning. Includes step-by-step instructions showing how to implement care and evaluate outcomes, and help you build skills in diagnostic reasoning and critical thinking.

Nursing Care Plans – Nursing Diagnosis & Intervention (10th Edition) Includes over two hundred care plans that reflect the most recent evidence-based guidelines. New to this edition are ICNP diagnoses, care plans on LGBTQ health issues, and on electrolytes and acid-base balance.

Nurse’s Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions, and Rationales Quick-reference tool includes all you need to identify the correct diagnoses for efficient patient care planning. The sixteenth edition includes the most recent nursing diagnoses and interventions and an alphabetized listing of nursing diagnoses covering more than 400 disorders.

Nursing Diagnosis Manual: Planning, Individualizing, and Documenting Client Care  Identify interventions to plan, individualize, and document care for more than 800 diseases and disorders. Only in the Nursing Diagnosis Manual will you find for each diagnosis subjectively and objectively – sample clinical applications, prioritized action/interventions with rationales – a documentation section, and much more!

All-in-One Nursing Care Planning Resource – E-Book: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, and Psychiatric-Mental Health   Includes over 100 care plans for medical-surgical, maternity/OB, pediatrics, and psychiatric and mental health. Interprofessional “patient problems” focus familiarizes you with how to speak to patients.

Recommended reading materials and sources for this NCP guide: 

• Björvell, C., Thorell-Ekstrand, I., & Wredling, R. (2000). Development of an audit instrument for nursing care plans in the patient record.   BMJ Quality & Safety ,  9 (1), 6-13. [ Link ]
• DeLaune, S. C., & Ladner, P. K. (2011).  Fundamentals of nursing: Standards and practice . Cengage learning .
• Freitas, F. A., & Leonard, L. J. (2011). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and student academic success .  Teaching and learning in Nursing ,  6 (1), 9-13.
• Hamilton, P., & Price, T. (2007). The nursing process, holistic.  Foundations of Nursing Practice E-Book: Fundamentals of Holistic Care , 349.
• Lee, T. T. (2004). Evaluation of computerized nursing care plan: instrument development .  Journal of Professional Nursing ,  20 (4), 230-238.
• Lee, T. T. (2006). Nurses’ perceptions of their documentation experiences in a computerized nursing care planning system .  Journal of Clinical Nursing ,  15 (11), 1376-1382.
• Rn , B. O. C., Rn, H. M., Rn, D. T., & Rn, F. E. (2000). Documenting and communicating patient care : Are nursing care plans redundant?.  International Journal of Nursing Practice ,  6 (5), 276-280.
• Stonehouse, D. (2017). Understanding the nursing process .  British Journal of Healthcare Assistants ,  11 (8), 388-391.
• Yildirim, B., & Ozkahraman, S. (2011). Critical thinking in nursing process and education .  International journal of humanities and social science ,  1 (13), 257-262.

69 thoughts on “Nursing Care Plans (NCP) Ultimate Guide and List”

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What is a nursing care plan a mother in second stage of labour?

Please see: 36 Labor Stages, Induced and Augmented Labor Nursing Care Plans

What is the nursing care plan for pulmonary oedema?

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Hi! You can download it here: Nursing Care Plan Template

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Hi Criselda,

Sorry, we don’t have a textbook. All of our resources are here on the website and free to use.

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These care plans are great for using as a template. I don’t have to reinvent the wheel, and the information you provided will ensure that I include the important data without leaving things out. Thanks a million!

Hi, I have learnt a lot, this is a wonderful note you’ve prepared for all nurses thank you.

Matt, this page is very informative and I especially appreciate seeing care plans for patients with neurological disorders. I notice, though, that traumatic brain injury is not on your list. Might you add a care plan page for this?

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Hi Paul, on your browser go to File > Print > Save as PDF. Hope that helps and thanks for visiting Nurseslabs!

Matt, I’m a nursing instructor looking for tools to teach this. I am interested in where we can find “rules” for establishing “related to” sections…for example –not able to utilize medical diagnosis as a “related to” etc. Also, resources for nursing rationale.

Hello, please check out our guide on how to write nursing diagnoses here: https://nurseslabs.com/nursing-diagnosis/

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Hi Abbas, Thank you so much! Really glad to hear you found the nursing care plans guide useful. If there’s a specific area or topic you’re keen on exploring more, or if you have any suggestions for improvement, feel free to share. Always aiming to make our resources as helpful as possible!

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What is ncp for acute pain

For everything you need to know about managing acute pain, including a detailed nursing care plan (NCP), definitely check out our acute pain nursing care plan guide . It’s packed with insights on assessment, interventions, and patient education to effectively manage and alleviate acute pain.

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Intra operative care ncp

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Nursing Care Plans Explained: Types, Tutorial & Examples

Nursing care plans are written tools that outline nursing diagnoses , interventions, and goals. Care plans are especially useful for student nurses as they learn to utilize the nursing process. By creating a nursing care plan based on a patient’s assessment, the nurse learns how to prioritize, plan goals and interventions, and evaluate outcomes related to specific disease processes. Care plans are essential for communication between nurses and other care team members in order to provide high-quality, continuous, evidence-based care.

In this article:

• What is a Nursing Care Plan?
• Why Use Nursing Care Plans?
• Types of Nursing Care Plans
• Nursing Care Plan Considerations
• Creating SMART Goals
• Nursing Interventions
• Tips for Effective Care Planning
• Nursing Care Plan Examples

Nursing care plans are a structured framework for delivering patient care. Nursing care plans are often called the “plan of care” and provide directions to nurses and the interprofessional team. Care plans are often described as the roadmap of patient care 2 , as they help nurses plan, prioritize, rationalize, and evaluate interventions.

Listed below are some of the benefits of using care plans in nursing practice.

1. Follows the client from admission to discharge . Care plans are continually updated depending on the patient’s status, goals, and outcomes and follow the patient across facility transfers and to different care settings.

2. Helps nurses plan interventions and revise care . Care plans provide structure to interventions, allowing the nurse to assess the intervention’s outcome and potentially revise care based on the outcome.

3. Evaluates interventions . Care plans include a combination of short and long-term goals that are specific, measurable, and timely. The nurse can evaluate if interventions are effective by evaluating goal progression.

4. Communication and continuity between nurses . The plan of care is a document that assists nurses in providing continuous and consistent care, working toward shared goals.

5. Coordinates other disciplines . The care plan may include input or interventions other interdisciplinary team members provide. A care plan communicates priorities between interprofessional team members to coordinate on common goals.

6. Engage with the patient/patient-centered care . Whenever possible, the patient should be involved in creating their plan of care. Nursing care plans are best used collaboratively with patients and families to account for a patient’s preferences, values, culture, and lifestyle. 2

7. Documentation purposes . Care plans are an opportunity for nurses to demonstrate that safe and ethical care was provided in accordance with professional regulations. Documentation may be used for communication, quality improvement, research, or legal proceedings.

8. Offers a framework for consistent care. A nursing diagnosis supports the care plan and outlines appropriate interventions. Nursing diagnoses should align with a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis, creating consistency in nursing diagnosis terminology and facilitating effective communication. 1

9. Prevents future health hazards. Some care plans may include nursing diagnoses the patient is at risk for, like falls or infection. Care plan interventions and goals can be created to prevent complications.

There is some variation in how care plans are used in practice. The structure and format of a care plan depend on the purpose of the care plan and the care setting.

Formal vs. Informal Care Planning

Generally, informal care plans are not formally documented. Informal care plans might include the nurse’s goals for their shift. These goals can be modified depending on the day’s priorities or changes in the patient’s condition.

Formal care plans are documented as part of the patient record used to coordinate, prioritize, and maintain continuity of care. While formal care plans are also modifiable depending on new priorities or the outcomes of interventions, they are often related to the longer-term goals of the patient. The formal care plan might include goals to meet before discharge from the hospital or the service. Both formal and informal care plans are used within the framework of the nursing process.

Standardized vs. Individualized Care Planning

Care plans can be either standardized or individualized for the patient. Many care settings will use standardized care plans for specific patient conditions to deliver consistent care. One example of a standardized care plan is the post-operative care pathway used in post-surgical units. These post-operative care plans outline expected goals for each post-operative day. However, standardized care plans should be tailored when possible to the needs of the individual patient.

In contrast, individualized care plans are created for individual patient needs. Individualized care plans should include input from the patient whenever possible to create personalized goals and support patient adherence. When creating an individualized care plan, consider the patient’s health status, history, and motivational factors and inquire about what matters most to them.

The Nursing Process

Care plans enter the nursing process at the planning stage but are influenced by all other steps. The steps of the nursing process can be remembered with the acronym ADPIE. 3

• Implementation/Interventions

Here is a breakdown of the nursing process:

1. Assessment: Assessing the client’s needs, gathering data In the assessment phase of the nursing process, the nurse collects and analyzes objective and subjective data . Then, the nurse uses their nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills to decide if further assessments are necessary to identify a nursing diagnosis.

2. Diagnosis: What’s going on? Crafting a nursing diagnosis Based on data collected during the assessment phase, the nurse crafts a nursing diagnosis that can be used to direct care planning. 4 The nurse should assign a nursing diagnosis using the standardized terminology laid out by NANDA-I. A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment that describes actual or potential health problems or opportunities for health improvement of a patient, family, or community.

3. Planning: Time to create goals In step three of the nursing process, the nurse, ideally in collaboration with the patient, creates goals of care based on the nursing diagnosis. A care plan, including interventions and expected outcomes, is created to achieve these goals.

4. Implementation: Time to act In the implementation phase of the nursing process, the nurse takes actions and performs the interventions described in the care plan to achieve the goals of care. The nurse uses their knowledge, experience, and critical thinking to decide which interventions are a priority. Often, interventions are based on orders from the physician.

5. Evaluate: What are the outcomes? In the evaluation phase of the nursing process, the nurse reassesses the patient to determine if the intervention has the desired outcome. Next, the nurse should evaluate if the goals of care have been met or require more time. If the intervention does not have the desired effect, the nurse should consider if the care plan needs revision or if the goals of care need to be updated.

Nursing Process Example

Here is an example of how the steps of the nursing process fit together. 

The nurse assesses the client who was in a motor vehicle accident. The client reports a pain level of 9/10 in their right shoulder. Through an x-ray, the client is determined to have a dislocated shoulder, and the nursing diagnosis of acute pain is applied. The nurse begins planning treatment and goals to reduce pain and instill comfort. The nurse administers IV pain medication as ordered and supports the right arm with pillows. The nurse evaluates the effectiveness of interventions by asking the client to rate their pain on a scale of 0-10. Depending on the outcome, the nurse may determine that the intervention was successful or requires revision.

How To Write a Nursing Care Plan

With experience, nursing care plans become second nature as part of nursing practice. Since nursing care planning can be formal or informal, a nursing care plan may look very different depending on the care context and the patient’s needs. While informal care plans may not be written in the patient chart, writing effective formal care plans takes practice. Formal care plans are important for communicating significant changes in the patient’s condition to the care team.

Care plans will appear differently depending on each electronic health record, computer platform, setting (home health, doctor’s office, etc.), and nursing specialty (case management, PACU, etc.). Regardless, the nursing process stays the same. One way to improve the skill of care plan writing is to read examples of high-quality care plans. Nurses can also ask experienced colleagues for feedback on their care plans. Some care settings will have templates of expected formal care plans. 

Overall, the care plan should flow seamlessly as part of the nursing process, taking into account relevant nursing diagnoses, expected outcomes, and the effectiveness of the planned interventions. If necessary, goals are revised, and the care plan is repeated until goals are met or are no longer applicable.

While rationales are not included in traditional nursing care plans, they are used in student care plans. When learning to write care plans, adding the rationale behind the diagnosis and interventions can be helpful. Students can explain the pathophysiology behind their assessment and why their intervention is necessary to guide their understanding.

Consider the hierarchy of needs.

In any care setting, there are often competing priorities that nurses must handle. When deciding on how to prioritize care needs for patients, a useful framework to organize care is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. 5 The highest priority needs are at the bottom of the pyramid including physiological needs such as air, nutrition, and sleep. The nurse must prioritize physical needs over those closer to the top of the pyramid, such as the need for a sense of connection.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. SMART goals are helpful in care planning because they increase the likelihood that the goal created will be practical and achievable. Conversely, goals that are too vague or not realistic are less likely to be achieved, which can discourage the goal-setter.

Specific Specific goals are not overly broad. A shared goal of “walking more” is not specific. However, “Walk three laps of the unit three times a day” is specific.

Measurable Related to being specific, there should be some way to measure whether the goal has been met or is at least progressing. There should be a benchmark that signals that the goal has been met. Benchmarks could be behavioral, physical, or expressed by the patient. 

Attainable Goals might take work to meet, but attainable goals are within reach. Goals that are too difficult or require multiple steps to reach are more likely to discourage rather than encourage. 

Realistic An achievable goal is also realistic. Attainable goals are possible to meet, while realistic goals take into consideration the context and potential barriers to meeting the goal.

Time-bound  Setting a time limit on the goal grounds the goal in reality and allows for measurement. The chosen period should depend on the goal’s size and should support progress and focus.

Examples of Collaborative SMART Goals

Here are two examples of how SMART goals can be used in care planning: 

Goal: “The client will rate their pain three or less on a scale of 0-10 by discharge.”

• Specific: The goal includes an exact number on the pain scale acceptable to the patient.
• Measurable: The goal can be tracked over time and measured on the pain scale.
• Attainable: This depends on the specific patient context, but for the example, we will assume this is an achievable goal for the patient.
• Realistic: Similarly, this goal must be realistic, which will depend on the patient’s pain tolerance.
• Time-bound: In the inpatient setting, ‘by discharge’ is an appropriate time frame.

Goal: The patient will demonstrate independently using a glucometer to check their blood sugar and how to self-administer necessary insulin after three diabetes education sessions. 

• Specific: The goal includes specific behaviors and outcomes of the education sessions.
• Measurable: The nurse can assess if the goal is complete by asking the patient to demonstrate their skills. 
• Attainable: The patient has the motor and cognitive ability to learn these skills. 
• Realistic: Enough time has been given for practice and education so that the patient feels comfortable and confident. 
• Time-bound: This goal is set to be achieved after three education sessions. At the end of the third session, the nurse can assess if the goal has been met or if more support or time is needed to meet this goal.

Short vs. Long-Term Goals

When creating goals of care, it can be helpful to categorize goals into short-term or long-term goals. Short-term goals are commonly found in acute care settings, where care interactions are shorter than in the community. However, both long and short-term goals are used across care settings. 

Short-term goals can be completed within a few hours or days. Although there is no precise cut-off for what makes a short-term care goal, short-term goals tend to focus on issues that need to be immediately addressed. An example of a short-term care goal is to improve the patient’s shortness of breath by identifying the cause and administering an intervention to relieve the shortness of breath.

In contrast, long-term goals are usually completed over weeks or months. Long-term care goals tend to be aimed at more chronic health challenges, prevention, and improvement. While important, they may be less urgent than short-term care goals. An example of a long-term care goal is the reduction of HbA1c over several months for a patient at risk for diabetes.

Once goals and a plan of care are established, the nurse will perform interventions. There are three main categories of nursing interventions :

Independent: Independent nursing interventions are within the nurse’s scope of practice and do not require the participation of another health professional, such as a physician, to carry out the intervention. Nurses can initiate, implement, and evaluate independent nursing interventions. An example of an independent nursing intervention is providing patient education. 

Dependent: Dependent nursing interventions require the participation of another health professional to carry out the intervention. Dependent interventions are often ordered by physicians and then implemented by nurses. Collecting blood work that a physician has ordered is an example of a dependent nursing intervention.

Collaborative: Collaborative nursing interventions are carried out with other healthcare professionals through collaboration or consultation. Collaborating with a physical therapist on exercises to improve patient mobility is an example of a collaborative nursing intervention.

1. Create goals with the patient when possible. The patient should be included in their care plan to ensure goals are congruent with their lifestyle, values, and preferences. This includes patient involvement in planning interventions and defining the intervention’s successful outcome. Including the patient in the care planning process will increase their motivation to actively participate in their care. 

2. Revise goals if necessary. If the goal is not met within the original timeframe, the goal may need revision to ensure that it is achievable and realistic, or the timeframe may need to be extended.

3. Continue to assess and reassess the patient. It is essential to continually evaluate the patient’s status to ensure that the goals and interventions are still appropriate for their condition. 

4. If a goal is not met, assess why. Interventions that are not working or care plan goals that are not met require revision. This may include revising the interventions, updating the goals of care, reviewing the patient diagnosis, assessing the client’s motivation or lack thereof, and furthering patient education. 

5. Ensure that progress towards a goal is recognized even if a goal is not met . In some situations, the goal’s timeline may need to be extended for a goal to be met. Consider that a goal may be ‘met’ even if the outcome is not what was intended.

Below you’ll find a list of over 400 care plans. All our care plans are written and reviewed by registered nurses.

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Bradycardia
• Cardiomyopathy
• Chest Pain (Angina)
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Heart Failure
• Hypertension
• Hypotension
• Myocardial Infarction
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Tachycardia
• Tetralogy of Fallot

Endocrine & Metabolic

• Diabetes Mellitus
• Diabetic Foot Ulcer
• Diabetic Ketoacidosis
• Hyperglycemia
• Hyperlipidemia
• Hypocalcemia & Hypercalcemia
• Hypoglycemia
• Hypokalemia & Hyperkalemia
• Hyponatremia & Hypernatremia
• Hypothyroidism
• Malnutrition
• Metabolic Acidosis
• Metabolic Alkalosis
• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)

Gastrointestinal

• Abdominal Pain
• Appendicitis
• Bowel Perforation
• Clostridioides Difficile
• Colon Cancer
• Colostomy & Ileostomy
• Crohn’s Disease
• Diverticulitis
• Gastrointestinal Bleed
• Liver Cirrhosis
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Paralytic Ileus
• Peritonitis
• Small Bowel Obstruction
• Ulcerative Colitis

Genitourinary

• Acute Kidney Injury
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
• Kidney Stones
• Pyelonephritis
• Urinary Tract Infection

Hematologic & Lymphatic

• Anaphylaxis
• Blood Transfusion
• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Low Hemoglobin
• Neutropenia
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Thrombocytopenia

Infectious Diseases

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Tuberculosis

Integumentary

• Pressure Ulcers
• Wound Care & Infection

Maternal & Newborn

• Breastfeeding
• Hyperemesis Gravidarum
• Labor and Delivery
• Placenta Previa
• Postpartum Hemorrhage
• Preeclampsia
• Preterm Labor

Mental Health & Psychiatric

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Altered Mental Status
• Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Major Depression
• Mental Health
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Psychosocial
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Substance Abuse

Musculoskeletal

• Compartment Syndrome
• Hip Fracture
• Knee Replacement Surgery
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteomyelitis
• Osteoporosis
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Spinal Cord Injury

Neurological

• Cerebral Palsy
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Encephalopathy
• Headache & Migraine
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Stroke (CVA)
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Respiratory

• Acute Respiratory Failure
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Chest Tube Insertion
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Pleural Effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Pulmonary Edema
• Tracheostomy

Other Care Plans

Anything that didn’t match a specific category you’ll find here:

• Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
• Breast Cancer
• Chemotherapy
• Community Health
• End-of-Life (Hospice) Care
• Hearing Loss
• Sleep Apnea
• NANDA International. Our Story. Accessed January 7, 2023. https://nanda.org/who-we-are/our-story/
• Capriotti T, eBook Nursing Collection – Worldwide, Books@Ovid Purchased eBooks. Nursing Care Planning Made Incredibly Easy! Third. Wolters Kluwer; 2018. https://go.exlibris.link/P281xmcS
• Toney-Butler T, Thayer J. Nursing Process. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499937/
• Carpenito LJ, Books@Ovid Purchased eBooks. Handbook of Nursing Diagnosis. 15th ed. Wolters Kluwer; 2017.
• Hayre-Kwan S, Quinn B, Chu T, Orr P, Snoke J. Nursing and Maslow’s Hierarchy; A Health Care Pyramid Approach to Safety and Security During a Global Pandemic. Nurse Lead. 2021;19(6):590-595. doi:10.1016/j.mnl.2021.08.013

How to Write a Nursing Care Plan

Nursing care plan components, nursing care plan fundamentals.

Knowing how to write a nursing care plan is essential for nursing students and nurses. Why? Because it gives you guidance on what the patient’s main nursing problem is, why the problem exists, and how to make it better or work towards a positive end goal. In this article, we'll dig into each component to show you exactly how to write a nursing care plan. 

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A nursing care plan has several key components including, 

• Nursing diagnosis
• Expected outcome
• Nursing interventions and rationales

Each of the five main components is essential to the overall nursing process and care plan. A properly written care plan must include these sections otherwise, it won’t make sense!

• Nursing diagnosis - A clinical judgment that helps nurses determine the plan of care for their patients
• Expected outcome - The measurable action for a patient to be achieved in a specific time frame. 
• Nursing interventions and rationales - Actions to be taken to achieve expected outcomes and reasoning behind them.
• Evaluation - Determines the effectiveness of the nursing interventions and determines if expected outcomes are met within the time set.

>> Related: What is the Nursing Process?

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Before writing a nursing care plan, determine the most significant problems affecting the patient. Think about medical problems but also psychosocial problems. At times, a patient's psychosocial concerns might be more pressing or even holding up discharge instead of the actual medical issues. 

After making a list of problems affecting the patient and corresponding nursing diagnosis, determine which are the most important. Generally, this is done by considering the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). However, these will not ALWAYS be the most significant or even relevant for your patient. 

Step 1: Assessment

The first step in writing an organized care plan includes gathering subjective and objective nursing data . Subjective data is what the patient tells us their symptoms are, including feelings, perceptions, and concerns. Objective data is observable and measurable.

This information can come from, 

Verbal statements from the patient and family

Vital signs

Blood pressure

Respirations

Temperature

Oxygen Saturation

Physical complaints

Body conditions

Head-to-toe assessment findings

Medical history

Height and weight

Intake and output

Patient feelings, concerns, perceptions

Laboratory data

Diagnostic testing

Echocardiogram

Step 2: Diagnosis

Using the information and data collected in Step 1, a nursing diagnosis is chosen that best fits the patient, the goals, and the objectives for the patient’s hospitalization. 

According to North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), defines a nursing diagnosis as “a clinical judgment about the human response to health conditions/life processes, or a vulnerability for that response, by an individual, family, group or community.”

A nursing diagnosis is based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid and helps prioritize treatments. Based on the nursing diagnosis chosen, the goals to resolve the patient’s problems through nursing implementations are determined in the next step. 

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There are 4 types of nursing diagnoses.  

Problem-focused - Patient problem present during a nursing assessment is known as a problem-focused diagnosis

Risk - Risk factors require intervention from the nurse and healthcare team prior to a real problem developing

Health promotion - Improve the overall well-being of an individual, family, or community

Syndrome - A cluster of nursing diagnoses that occur in a pattern or can all be addressed through the same or similar nursing interventions

After determining which type of the four diagnoses you will use, start building out the nursing diagnosis statement. 

The three main components of a nursing diagnosis are:

Problem and its definition - Patient’s current health problem and the nursing interventions needed to care for the patient.

Etiology or risk factors - Possible reasons for the problem or the conditions in which it developed

Defining characteristics or risk factors - Signs and symptoms that allow for applying a specific diagnostic label/used in the place of defining characteristics for risk nursing diagnosis

PROBLEM-FOCUSED DIAGNOSIS

Problem-Focused Diagnosis related to ______________________ (Related Factors) as evidenced by _________________________ (Defining Characteristics).

RISK DIAGNOSIS

The correct statement for a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis would be: Risk for _____________ as evidenced by __________________________ (Risk Factors).

Step 3: Outcomes and Planning

After determining the nursing diagnosis, it is time to create a SMART goal based on evidence-based practices. SMART is an acronym that stands for,

It is important to consider the patient’s medical diagnosis, overall condition, and all of the data collected. A medical diagnosis is made by a physician or advanced healthcare practitioner.  It’s important to remember that a medical diagnosis does not change if the condition is resolved, and it remains part of the patient’s health history forever. 

Examples of medical diagnosis include, 

Chronic Lung Disease (CLD)

Alzheimer’s Disease

Endocarditis

Plagiocephaly 

Congenital Torticollis 

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

It is also during this time you will consider goals for the patient and outcomes for the short and long term. These goals must be realistic and desired by the patient. For example, if a goal is for the patient to seek counseling for alcohol dependency during the hospitalization but the patient is currently detoxing and having mental distress - this might not be a realistic goal. 

Step 4: Implementation

Now that the goals have been set, you must put the actions into effect to help the patient achieve the goals. While some of the actions will show immediate results (ex. giving a patient with constipation a suppository to elicit a bowel movement) others might not be seen until later on in the hospitalization. 

The implementation phase means performing the nursing interventions outlined in the care plan. Interventions are classified into seven categories: 

Physiological

Complex physiological

Health system interventions

Some interventions will be patient or diagnosis-specific, but there are several that are completed each shift for every patient:

Pain assessment

Position changes

Fall prevention

Providing cluster care

Infection control

Step 5: Evaluation 

The fifth and final step of the nursing care plan is the evaluation phase. This is when you evaluate if the desired outcome has been met during the shift. There are three possible outcomes, 

Based on the evaluation, it can determine if the goals and interventions need to be altered. Ideally, by the time of discharge, all nursing care plans, including goals should be met. Unfortunately, this is not always the case - especially if a patient is being discharged to hospice, home care, or a long-term care facility. Initially, you will find that most care plans will have ongoing goals that might be met within a few days or may take weeks. It depends on the status of the patient as well as the desired goals. 

Consider picking goals that are achievable and can be met by the patient. This will help the patient feel like they are making progress but also provide relief to the nurse because they can track the patient’s overall progress. 

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Nursing care plans contain information about a patient’s diagnosis, goals of treatment, specific nursing interventions, and an evaluation plan. The nursing plan is constantly updated with changes and new subjective and objective data. 

Key aspects of the care plan include,

Outcome and Planning

Implementation

Through subjective and objective data, constantly assessing your patient’s physical and mental well-being, and the goals of the patient/family/healthcare team, a nursing care plan can be a helpful and powerful tool.

*This website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease.

Kathleen Gaines (nee Colduvell) is a nationally published writer turned Pediatric ICU nurse from Philadelphia with over 13 years of ICU experience. She has an extensive ICU background having formerly worked in the CICU and NICU at several major hospitals in the Philadelphia region. After earning her MSN in Education from Loyola University of New Orleans, she currently also teaches for several prominent Universities making sure the next generation is ready for the bedside. As a certified breastfeeding counselor and trauma certified nurse, she is always ready for the next nursing challenge.

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Nursing Care Plan (+ Template)

Table of contents, what is a nursing care plan .

A nursing care plan is a written document detailing the nursing interventions that will be done to meet a client’s needs and health goals. It serves as a guide for personalized care of the client and facilitates communication in the healthcare team. 

What is a nursing intervention? 

Nursing interventions are actions in a care plan, such as patient education or treatments. They are formed using patient feedback, evidence-based sources, and the nursing process. 

How to write a nursing care plan 

How to prepare a nursing care plan using the 5-step nursing process (adpie):.

Following the nursing diagnoses that were formed based on a thorough assessment (history, physical assessment, focused assessment), a clear plan of care goals, interventions, and desired outcomes is defined. 

Nursing tip: Gather information in a logical and informed way to provide the best care possible. 

Nursing tip: To address each intervention to assess quality in patient care, goals need to be SMART: 

• M easurable
• A ttainable

Discuss with your client which health goals they would like to achieve. 

Nursing care plan template & examples

Once the client’s goals are established, nursing interventions (NIC) and standard nursing outcomes (NOC) can be used to guide patient care. 

They can, for example, be presented in the nursing care plan in a column-based format: 

Examples of goals could be: 

• Stage 1 pressure ulcer will resolve
• Client demonstrates insulin injection procedure
• Client reports pain level < 4 with ambulation

Examples of fitting nursing interventions could be: 

• Reposition client every 2 hours
• Request diabetes education consult
• Administer pain medication 1 hour before physical therapy

Examples of possible outcomes could be: 

• Reduced redness in lower back area
• Client demonstrates self-injection techniques
• Client ambulates 100 feet twice a day

Nursing intervention examples (practice questions)

Which nursing intervention is placed in the plan of care for a client diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

Answer options:

• Apply a cold compress to the affected joint for 15–20 minutes
• Encourage high-impact exercise like jogging
• Administer IV antibiotics as prescribed
• Start a weight-lifting program for strength

Correct answer:

• Applying a cold compress to the affected joint for 15–20 minutes.

Explanation: 

Cold compresses can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain in osteoarthritis. High-impact exercise and lifting weights can worsen the condition, and antibiotics are not used for osteoarthritis, as it’s not caused by an infection.

A client is diagnosed with hypervolemia. Which is the priority nursing intervention?

• Encourage fluid intake hourly
• Monitor weight and strict I & O
• Administer bronchodilators
• Initiate cardiac monitoring

      2. Monitor weight and intake and output carefully.

In hypervolemia, fluid overload is a concern. Monitoring weight and intake and output allows for accurate assessment and helps guide treatment. More fluid intake would exacerbate the problem, and bronchodilators are not directly related to fluid volume management. Cardiac monitoring is not required as no cardiac problem is identified.

A client has completed a bone marrow biopsy. Which nursing intervention is the priority action post-procedure?

• Elevate the extremity where the biopsy was taken
• Administer a dose of intravenous antibiotics
• Apply pressure to the biopsy site
• Use heating pad at site on low setting

      3. Apply pressure to the biopsy site.

Applying pressure to the biopsy site helps prevent hemorrhage and facilitates clot formation. Elevating the extremity and administering antibiotics are not generally the priority interventions post-bone marrow biopsy. Ice packs, not heat, can be used for short periods of time for tenderness.

Which nursing intervention is essential in caring for a client diagnosed with compartment syndrome?

• Apply ice to the affected extremity.
• Elevate the affected limb above heart level.
• Loosen or remove the tight bandage or cast.
• Alert the Rapid Response Team.

       3. Loosen or remove the tight bandage or cast.

Compartment syndrome is caused by increased pressure within a muscle compartment, which can compromise circulation to the area. If a tight bandage or cast is contributing to the pressure, it should be loosened or removed to alleviate the pressure. The other answers could potentially worsen the condition. The Rapid Response Team is notified for imminent deterioration, which this client is not manifesting

The nurse cares for a client diagnosed with pyelonephritis. Which nursing intervention does the nurse include in the plan of care?

• Encourage fluid restriction.
• Administer prescribed antibiotics.
• Apply a heating pad to the lower back.
• Instruct client to keep blood glucose lower.

      2. Administer prescribed antibiotics.

Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of the kidneys that usually requires antibiotic treatment for resolution. Fluid restriction is generally not recommended; in fact, increased fluids may be encouraged. A heating pad may provide temporary relief but doesn’t treat the underlying infection. If the client does have diabetes mellitus, it does increase the risk for pyelonephritis, but no mention of this is given. 

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Wright J, Lawton R, O’Hara J, et al. Improving patient safety through the involvement of patients: development and evaluation of novel interventions to engage patients in preventing patient safety incidents and protecting them against unintended harm. Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; 2016 Oct. (Programme Grants for Applied Research, No. 4.15.)

Improving patient safety through the involvement of patients: development and evaluation of novel interventions to engage patients in preventing patient safety incidents and protecting them against unintended harm.

Appendix 8 examples of the types of action plans made by different wards.

• Action plan 1: example of an action plan that sought to challenge underlying structural issues

Trust 2, Ward C, 5 November 2013

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PGD, Patient Group Direction.

Action plan 2: example of an action plan that attempted to cover multiple issues by ‘managing patient expectations’ rather than addressing underlying problems regarding the ward environment

Trust 1, Ward H, 2 September 2013

Action plan 3: example of an appropriate ‘quick fix’ action plan to solve a specific issue

Trust 2, Ward J, 17 September 2013

Action plan 4: example of an inappropriate ‘quick fix’ action plan that is unlikely to solve an issue

Trust 3, Ward L, 28 November 2013

Included under terms of UK Non-commercial Government License .

• Cite this Page Wright J, Lawton R, O’Hara J, et al. Improving patient safety through the involvement of patients: development and evaluation of novel interventions to engage patients in preventing patient safety incidents and protecting them against unintended harm. Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; 2016 Oct. (Programme Grants for Applied Research, No. 4.15.) Appendix 8, Examples of the types of action plans made by different wards.
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• Action plan 2: example of an action plan that attempted to cover multiple issues by ‘managing patient expectations’ rather than addressing underlying problems regarding the ward environment
• Action plan 3: example of an appropriate ‘quick fix’ action plan to solve a specific issue
• Action plan 4: example of an inappropriate ‘quick fix’ action plan that is unlikely to solve an issue

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A nursing care plan is an important part of a patient’s care. And since a nurse’s role is caring for a patient, nursing care plans are an important part of a nurse’s career, as well. Understanding how a nursing care plan is used in patient care can help strengthen your skills as a nurse and improve your relationships with patients.

What is a nursing care plan?

A nursing care plan is a plan of action for the care of a patient. In following the nursing process , after assessing and diagnosing a patient, the nursing care plan is created to take steps to meet the patient and health care team’s goals for the patient’s health. The nursing care plan includes any interventions the nurse will use to help the patient. Depending on the needs of the patient, these interventions can include basic hygiene care such as baths, or physical rehabilitation exercises to help the patient recover from an injury. They may also include guidelines for food and liquid intake if a patient’s diet needs to be restricted in some way. After caring for the patient, the nursing care plan is used to evaluate the patient’s progress as well as the nurse’s abilities.

Why are nursing care plans used?

Nursing care plans are used for several reasons. They keep the patient’s health care team on the same page while caring for him or her. A nurse or doctor can look at the nursing care plan to determine what needs to be done for the patient, as well as what has already been done. This keeps the health care team organized for the best care of the patient. Nursing care plans can also help clear up any disputes or problems that can arise during or after care. For example, if a patient has an adverse reaction to something, the nursing care plan can be consulted to determine what intervention may have caused it so different action can be taken.

How are nursing care plans used?

Nursing care plans are used as guidelines for patient care. The nursing care plan is developed for the individual patient so it is tailored to a patient’s specific needs. Personalizing the patient care allows the nurse to better help the patient meet his or her goals for health. However, they are not rigid. While caring for a patient, a nurse may discover that a particular intervention is not working, or another plan needs to be implemented. The nursing care plan can be altered when needed to improve patient care. Just as a patient’s health is fluid, the nursing care plan must be, as well. Not every patient will fit into a specific mold of patient care, so there is no easy formula for a nursing care plan that can be applied to all patients.

Nursing care plans take patient care from diagnosis to meeting his or her health goals. They guide the nurse and health care team in taking action to help the patient’s health improve and meet goals set by the patient, as well as goals set by the health care team. Remembering that nursing care plans should be as individualized as the patient and his or her needs will help nurses provide better patient care, which will in turn help patients work more quickly and successfully toward their health goals.

Action Planning: Breaking Down Health Goals into Manageable Steps

By Cindy Brach, MPP, Senior Health Care Researcher, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Ever have a patient who knows he needs to lose weight, but the amount of weight is so daunting that he doesn’t know how to get started? Or a patient with high cholesterol who is having trouble making lifestyle changes that would reduce her risk of a cardiovascular event? If so, you might want to start making action plans with your patients.

What Are Action Plans?

Action plans, created jointly by clinicians and patients, spell out small and realistic steps the patient is planning to take to address a health goal. In addition to making changes to diets and physical activity routines, action plans can be used for a wide variety of goals—including stopping smoking, reducing stress, and improving sleep habits. Research has shown that a majority of patients who made an action plan in a primary care site reported making an associated behavior change.

How to Begin Action Planning

You might want to start by conducting a health assessment of your patients. A health assessment is a systematic collection and analysis of health-related information on a patient. It can help identify and support beneficial health behaviors and work to direct changes in potentially harmful health behaviors. Health Assessments in Primary Care , a guide from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), can help you initiate health assessments into your practice.

Next, you’ll need to decide who is going to engage patients in action planning. It could be the primary care clinician, or it could be clinical support staff. Alternatively, you may decide to have clinicians introduce the action planning process and have clinical support staff conduct follow-up . To learn more about optimizing team functioning and handoffs, see TeamSTEPPS for Office-Based Care .

Let Patients Call the Shots

It’s critical that patients choose both the goal and the action steps they plan to take. It can be tempting to make suggestions, but action plans need to come from patients. For example, you may think the top priority change is getting more physical activity, but if the patient is more interested in modifying her diet, that’s going to be the goal. People, however, can be overly ambitious. Part of your job, therefore, is to help in the selection of realistic goals and action steps. Try having a menu of options (e.g., lists of exercises, foods to cut down on) that can give patients ideas for specific steps they can take. healthfinder.gov has lots of suggestions for making healthy changes.

Action Planning Takes Practice

Although it’s a straightforward process once you have it under your belt, action planning has many moving parts. You need to:

• Determine whether your patient is ready to make a change.
• Guide the choice of goal and action steps without taking over.
• Assess your patient’s confidence in completing the action steps and help your patient revise the plan if his confidence is not high enough.
• Identify and address barriers that could keep your patient from completing the action plan.
• Follow up after the visit and modify the plan as needed.

There are some resources that can help you use action planning to support behavior change. Look at Make Action Plans , a tool from the AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit – for details on implementing the process. Try watching videos of action planning, such as this Action Plans video from the University of California San Francisco’s Center for Excellence in Primary Care . Then try action planning with 1 or 2 patients. It may take you a little while before you master the art of letting the patient take the lead and health literacy techniques such as confirming understanding using the teach-back method . But once you’re proficient, you’ll be able to co-create an action plan in a matter of minutes.

By transforming behavior change discussions with your patients, action planning presents an opportunity to achieve concrete progress on health promotion goals.

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SMART Goals for Nursing With Clear Examples

Goals provide a keen sense of motivation, direction, clarity, and a clear focus on every aspect of your career or (nurse) life .

You are letting yourself have a specific aim or target by setting clear goals for yourself.

There is a method called the SMART goal that is used by a lot of people to guide them in setting their goals. In this article, you are going to learn how to set up SMART goals for nursing with plenty of examples of SMART goals for nursing .

But first, let me tell you what the SMART goal is generally speaking.

The acronym SMART stands for the terms Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

All these five elements are the main parts of the SMART goal. This simple yet powerful method brings structure and ensures that your goals are within reason and are attainable.

The SMART goal helps you in defining what the “future state” of your goal would look like, and how it is to be measured.

SMART goals are:

• Specific – clear, unambiguous, and well defined
• Measurable – has a criterion that helps you measure your progress
• Att ainable – beyond reach and not impossible to achieve
• Relevant – realistic and has relevance to your life or career
• Time-Bound – well defined time, has a starting date and an ending date

Often, people or businesses set unrealistic goals for themselves that only lead to failure.

For instance, you may be a nurse practitioner and you set goals such as “I will be the best at _____.” This specific type of goal is vague and has no sense of direction in it.

Here is a thorough video from DecisionSkills that I encourage you to watch before continuing reading.

After the video, you’ll have a much better understanding of setting SMART goals for nursing.

Now it’s time to give you a couple of examples of SMART goals for nursing.

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Table of Contents

Examples of SMART Goals for Nursing

In this fast-paced and busy day-to-day life, the job of a nurse can get stressful and overwhelming–with all the workloads and patients emerging from left to right.

SMART goals are especially helpful in nursing as it helps in defining a developmental framework and helps you see your progress towards your goal.

• Patient Care
• Professional Development

Next, a more specific answer to each category.

Today, I will construct a checklist for an updated patient and staff safety and hazard. I will use our ward policy guidelines in constructing this checklist.

I will let every staff nurse check this list based on a once-a-month rotation. I shall complete the checklist by the end of September and have it measured monthly.

#2 Patient Care

I shall hand over the assessment notes, care instructions, and patient details to the next shift nurse as I complete my shift.

I have to finish this before the break time so that the details of the patients would be noted and important instructions would be followed.

#3 Efficiency

I will document the additional tasks following the timetabling meeting weekly so that I can efficiently balance my time and be able to manage all my duties.

This will benefit me as it improves my overall time management .

#4 Accuracy

I will record all my notes about the patient as soon as I leave his or her room, while the information is still fresh and complete in my mind.

This will help in ensuring the accuracy of the information before I proceed to my next endeavor.

#5 Professional Development

By the end of this year, I shall attend two workshops that will help me with my specialty or another field that will help me for the betterment of my profession as a nurse .

Next, I’m going to give you examples of SMART goals for nursing students.

Examples of SMART Goals for Nursing Students

Scenario:  You’re a 1st-year college student who’s taking up nursing.

Your professor in one of your major subjects has announced that you’ll be having your final examination at the end of the month.

You know that this subject is critical, and you want to pass this subject no matter what.

SIMPLE GOAL

I want to pass our final examination.

I will finish reading three chapters of our book within this day. I’ll write down every important terminology and its definition in my notebook.

I will also take a 15-minute break in every hour of studying.

For tomorrow, I will make flashcards that will help me easily retain this information and terminologies better.

On the day before our examination, I will make sure to have sufficient rest and enough amount of sleep.

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Let’s move on to examples of SMART goals for nurse practitioners.

Examples of SMART Goals for Nurse Practitioners

Scenario:  You’re a nurse practitioner, but your monthly salary is not enough since you’ll be having to pay for your loans and other payable.

So, your perceived solution to this problem is to strive and get promoted in the acute care facility which gives a higher pay than your current position.

I want to be promoted to a higher position and make more money.

I will work harder so that my chances of getting promoted in the acute care facility would be higher.

This new job pays me an amount of $30 per hour, including a night differential.

I will aspire to be a better nurse practitioner day by day, so that by August 30th, my manager would see my potential, and get me promoted.

Examples of SMART Goals for Nurse Practitioner Students

Scenario:  You’re a nurse practitioner student who’s failing in his/her exams and got the lowest grade in your class.

You know to yourself that something is wrong with your study methods because even if you study hard, you don’t see the fruit of your labor.

I want to learn the other nurse practitioner students’ study methods.

I will improve my study methods by asking my fellow nurse practitioner students how they prepare for tasks and exams.

Today, I will talk to one of my fellow nurse practitioner students, and ask them if we could have a group study together as we prepare for the upcoming examination.

Examples of SMART Goals for Nurse Managers

Scenario:  You’re the department manager and you’re assigned to handle the nurses in the hospital.

You notice that the work environment is getting unhealthy, and the nurses in your department are uncomfortable with each other and with you.

I want to improve my relationship with the nurses that I handle.

I will make sure to promote a healthy working environment by having a meeting once or twice a month to discuss prevailing and relevant issues in our department and hear some constructive feedback from the nurses that I handle.

I will make sure to treat them all equally and with the utmost respect regardless of their age or gender.

But I will also set professional boundaries among the nurses that I handle, and I will make sure that I lay these limits very clearly so that no one will violate them.

Examples of SMART Goals for Nursing Care Plans

Scenario: You’ve learned from a workshop that by showing compassion and empathy to your patient, they will adhere better to the medications which would lead to quicker recovery.

See also: Compassion in Nursing

I want to show more empathy to the patients that I’m handling.

I will make sure to spend an extra 5-10 minutes with each of my new patients.

I will ask them questions about their interests and hobbies so that I can distract them from their health condition.

Also, I will make sure to put myself into their position by thinking about what they must be feeling about the situation.

My way of communicating with them should be as if I’m just having a conversation with a friend, but of course with respect and boundaries.

See also: Nursing Care Plan – Full Guide & Free Templates

More Tips for Creating SMART Goals

Pursuing an “I will” statement is more effective than an “I want” statement .

As you create your own SMART goals, remember to ask yourself the following questions:

• How is my goal specific? Where is the focus?
• How is my goal measurable? How will I be able to track my progress?
• How is my goal achievable? Are my resources enough to achieve this goal?
• How is my goal relevant? How will this help in my career as a nurse?
• Is my goal time-bound? Is my goal set in a realistic time frame?

Aside from the five elements comprising SMART goals, it is important to have a model and visualization of your goals as if you have already achieved your goal.

Not only will this motivate you, but this will also give you the feeling of success that comes from achieving that specific goal of yours.

Release any doubts that you have. Those doubts whispering that you’re not enough, or those negative thoughts that kept you awake all night.

Let those negative self-talk go.

The more you say something to yourself, the more likely these things will happen in reality. So, it is always best to talk nicely to yourself.

While releasing your doubts and visualization of your goals are both effective, all these things will only matter once you take consistent action towards your desired goal to progress each day.

Things may get overwhelming and you may not know where to start, so it is advisable to do one task at a time.

It may seem hard at first, that’s just how things are.

But as you keep going, you will get closer and closer to your goal.

The Art of Setting SMART Goals

If these tips were not enough for you, I highly recommend you to check out more about SMART nursing goals from No products found. book.

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We’re an affiliate As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate it! 🙂

Conclusion: SMART Goals for Nursing

By setting SMART goals for nursing students, nurse practitioners, nurse practitioner students, nurse managers, and nursing care plans, you are setting a clear focus for your ideas and efforts that will allow you to reach your goals in a much shorter period.

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But you should also take note of the possible drawbacks to SMART goals that may hinder you from achieving your goals.

At this point, you should have a clear understanding of how to set SMART goals for nursing.

If you would like to learn some more check out these articles of ours:

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An educational intervention to increase nurse adherence in eliciting patient daily goals, writing smarter goals for professional learning and improving classroom practices, supporting failing students: how collaboration is key, identifying and managing underperformance in nursing students: lessons from practice, why written objectives need to be really smart, related papers (2), european union's action plan on antimicrobial resistance and implications for trading partners with example of national action plan for croatia, problems in top-down goal setting in second language education: a case study of the “action plan to cultivate ‘japanese with english abilities’”, trending questions (3).

Action plans are sets of SMART objectives with resources and activities to help nurses or nursing students achieve specific goals, enhancing practice and learning outcomes in nursing education and practice.

An action plan is a set of SMART objectives with resources and activities to support nurses or nursing students in achieving specific goals within a defined timeframe.

An action plan in nursing is a set of SMART objectives with resources and activities to support nurses or nursing students in achieving specific goals within a defined time frame.

5+ SAMPLE Nursing Action Plan in PDF

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Jul 29, 2022

Action Plans: Examples from the Field

On June 3 and 4, 2021, the Future of Nursing:  Campaign for Action  assembled key opinion leaders, experts, and change makers across the fields of health care, nursing and health equity. The goal: Build actions plans to operationalize the National Academy of Medicine’s  Future of Nursing 2020 2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity  report.  The draft workplans are examples of how each recommendation may be addressed.

Recommendation #1: CREATING A SHARED AGENDA

Recommendation #2: SUPPORTING NURSES TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY

Recommendation #3: PROMOTING NURSES’ HEALTH AND WELL BEING

Recommendation #4: CAPITALIZING ON NURSES’ POTENTIAL

Recommendation #5: PAYING FOR NURSING CARE

Recommendation #6: USING TECHNOLOGY TO INTEGRATE DATA ON SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH INTO NURSING PRACTICE

Recommendation #7: STRENGTHENING NURSING EDUCATION

Recommendation #8: PREPARING NURSES TO RESPOND TO DISASTERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES

Recommendation #9: BUILDING THE EVIDENCE BASE

  Back to Resources

Let’s Do This

Stay up to date on Campaign for Action news and learn how to get involved.

Nursing Action Plan Template

Download this Nursing Action Plan Template Design in Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages Format. Easily Editable, Printable, Downloadable.

Make a care plan that determines what sort of treatment a patient would need using Template.net's Free Nursing Action Plan Template. This Template was developed by professionals to help you create an effective Nursing Action Plan in a few minutes. Use our Document Editor Tool to Edit details like Introduction, Goals, and Action Plans, for free. Download the document in your preferred file format so you can print and share it with your Nursing Staff.

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IntelyCare for Healthcare Facilities > Resources > Nursing Job Description Samples > NICU Nurse Job Description Template

NICU Nurse Job Description Template

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Neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU ) nurses are specialized in caring for sick and premature newborns . Beyond helping deliver treatment, they also provide support, education, and guidance to new parents and families who are dealing with a range of difficult circumstances. As this is a specialty that requires strong compassion, decision-making skills, and resilience, creating a strong NICU nurse job description is key to attracting the right applicants for this role.

To help you build a high-quality pool of talent, we’ve provided a sample job description for NICU nurse candidates that outlines common benefits, duties, and requirements of the role. Tailor this template to your facility’s needs and pair it with thoughtful interview questions to narrow down your field of potential candidates. Seeking more insights? Browse current NICU nurse job openings at other facilities to learn how you can make your job posting stand out.

Tips: This is the introductory section of your NICU nurse job description, where you’ll want to provide a brief overview of the NICU nurse role and your facility. Here, you can share a preview of your mission and values , and mention any notable awards, distinctions, or perks that would make candidates want to work at your organization. You can also briefly indicate any essential qualifications (e.g., licenses or degrees) that you’re looking for to ensure that you’re capturing the attention of the right audience.

[Facility name] is looking for a registered nurse (RN) to join our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Consistently ranked one of the best places to work in the state, we are committed to helping our staff thrive both personally and professionally. We offer a generous benefits package and ample professional development opportunities for our nursing staff. As a valued member of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of families and critically ill newborns. If you’re a dedicated nursing professional with a passion for working in neonatal care, we’d like to hear from you!

Tips: Now that prospective candidates have an overview of the role, they’ll want more details about your employee benefits package . This section of your NICU nurse job description should outline all the perks of working at your facility. If you offer any professional development opportunities for your NICU nurses, such as training programs or tuition reimbursement, you should also indicate that here.

• $10,000 sign-on bonus
• 401k matching
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 12 days PTO and paid holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Continuing education (CE) credits

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: This section of your NICU job description should outline the neonatal nurse responsibilities and daily activities that candidates can expect to carry out on the job. Make sure that you’re listing these duties in order of relevance to help prospective candidates determine whether this role is the right fit for their skills and expertise.

Keep in mind that if you’re also drafting a NICU nurse practitioner job description , the duties listed for nurse practitioners will be more advanced than those listed for a nurse. NICU nurse practitioners have more autonomy over directing the course of treatment for a patient, whereas nurses focus more on the foundations of nursing observation and care.

• Provide specialized nursing care to premature and critically-ill newborns
• Assess and monitor the status of neonatal patients, including developmental milestones
• Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by supervising physicians
• Collaborate with the care team to develop and implement care plans for each patient
• Support and educate parents and families about their newborn’s care
• Document and maintain accurate patient records in the electronic health records (EHR)
• Adhere to all hospital policies, procedures, and safety protocols
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and contribute to improved practices

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: After you’ve described the duties and responsibilities of the job, prospective applicants will want to know more about the logistics. This section of your NICU nurse job description should outline the expected pay range , scheduling requirements, and work location.

Providing a pay range upfront demonstrates transparency, which can make prospective candidates more inclined to apply for a role. Doing this will also help set clearer expectations when it’s time to negotiate an offer.

• Pay range: $65,000-$90,000/year
• Full time, 36 hours/week
• Night shift (7 p.m. – 7 a.m.)
• Location: [insert city, state]

Skills and Qualifications

Tips: In this section, you should clarify the NICU nurse job requirements, skills, and qualifications that are required or preferred for the role. List all education, licensure, and certification requirements that prospective applicants should complete prior to starting the job. You can also indicate any specific clinical skills that you’d like your candidates to have. Just be sure to indicate whether these skills are required or preferred to avoid deterring qualified applicants.

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Current and unrestricted RN license in [insert state]
• Current BLS and PALS certifications from the AHA
• At least 1 year of NICU nursing experience preferred

Call to Action

Tips: Now that you have the attention of your prospective candidates, they’ll be ready to take the next steps. This last section should include a concise call to action that includes the link to your application portal or any other relevant job application details.

Are you ready to take your career as a NICU nurse to the next level? Click here to start your application today. We look forward to hearing from you!

Connect With a High Quality Network of Nurses Today

Not sure where to advertise your NICU nurse job description? IntelyCare can help you reach a nationwide network of talent. Post to our nursing-only job board today and let our targeted, AI-matching algorithm facilitate your applicant search .

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Hospital case manager job description template, charge nurse job description template, psychiatric nurse practitioner job description template, school nurse job description template, oncology nurse job description template, related jobs, reach 1 million+ nursing professionals, with the intelycare job board.

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Who Are the Far-Right Groups Behind the U.K. Riots?

After a deadly stabbing at a children’s event in northwestern England, an array of online influencers, anti-Muslim extremists and fascist groups have stoked unrest, experts say.

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By Esther Bintliff and Eve Sampson

Esther Bintliff reported from London, and Eve Sampson from New York.

Violent unrest has erupted in several towns and cities in Britain in recent days, and further disorder broke out on Saturday as far-right agitators gathered in demonstrations around the country.

The violence has been driven by online disinformation and extremist right-wing groups intent on creating disorder after a deadly knife attack on a children’s event in northwestern England, experts said.

A range of far-right factions and individuals, including neo-Nazis, violent soccer fans and anti-Muslim campaigners, have promoted and taken part in the unrest, which has also been stoked by online influencers .

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to deploy additional police officers to crack down on the disorder. “This is not a protest that has got out of hand,” he said on Thursday. “It is a group of individuals who are absolutely bent on violence.”

Here is what we know about the unrest and some of those involved.

Where have riots taken place?

The first riot took place on Tuesday evening in Southport, a town in northwestern England, after a deadly stabbing attack the previous day at a children’s dance and yoga class. Three girls died of their injuries, and eight other children and two adults were wounded.

The suspect, Axel Rudakubana , was born in Britain, but in the hours after the attack, disinformation about his identity — including the false claim that he was an undocumented migrant — spread rapidly online . Far-right activists used messaging apps including Telegram and X to urge people to take to the streets.

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