Evaluation
Evaluation is the last phase of the nursing process. It follows implementation of the plan of care. It’s the judgment of the effectiveness of nursing care to meet patient goals based on the patient’s behavioral responses. Evaluating is a planned, ongoing, purposeful activity in which patients and health care professionals determine the patient’s progress toward achievement of goals/outcomes and the effectiveness of the nursing care plan. (Anukrishnan 2012). * Evaluation is continuous. * Done immediately after implementation to make on the spot modifications in an intervention. * Evaluation is performed at specific intervals. * Evaluation continues until the patient achieves the health goals or discharged from nursing care. * Evaluation includes goal achievement and self- care abilities. * Through evaluation nurses demonstrate responsibility and accountability for their actions and indicate interest in the results of the nursing activities.

Process of Evaluating Patient Responses 1. Collecting data related to the desired outcomes. 2. Comparing the data with outcomes. 3. Relating nursing activities to outcomes. 4. Drawing conclusions about problem status. 5. Continuing, modifying, or terminating the nursing care plan.

When determining whether a goal has been achieved, the nurse can draw one of the three possible conclusions: * The goal was met. The patient response is the same as the desired outcome. * The goal was partially met. Either a short term goal was achieved but the long term was not, or the desired outcome was only partially attained. * The goal was not met.

When goals have been partially met or when goals have not been met, two conclusions may be drawn: * The care plan may need to be revised, since the problem is only partially resolved. * The care plan does not need