In the planning stage, what is a core activity?

• A. Choosing interventions to meet goals
• B. Administering medications
• C. Writing all orders
• D. Documenting only after care

Answer: (A)

In the planning stage, you translate assessment findings and diagnoses into a care plan by setting measurable outcomes and deciding which actions will achieve them. The core activity here is choosing interventions aimed at meeting the goals. These interventions are the concrete steps the nurse will take or coordinate with others—whether independent nursing actions, collaborative treatments, patient education, or resource management—designed to move the patient toward the desired outcomes. The selection process weighs safety, evidence, patient preferences, and feasibility within the care setting, and it establishes what will be done, by whom, and within what time frame. Administering medications, writing all orders, and documenting after care align more with implementation or evaluation stages, though they may occur as part of carrying out or recording the plan.