Care Manager Certification Practice Exam

After gathering data on a client admitted for a surgical procedure, which step of the nursing process does a nurse use next?

1. Assessing.

2. Implementing.

3. Analyzing diagnosis.

4. Developing outcomes.

The correct answer is: Analyzing diagnosis.

After gathering data on a client admitted for a surgical procedure, the next step in the nursing process is to analyze the diagnosis. This step involves examining the collected data to identify the patient's needs, problems, and potential nursing diagnoses. By critically analyzing the data, the nurse is able to synthesize information and make informed decisions regarding patient care, which lays the foundation for developing appropriate goals and interventions. Analyzing the diagnosis is crucial because it allows the nurse to prioritize care based on the client's specific conditions and risks associated with the surgical procedure. This step typically leads to formulating nursing diagnoses that guide the subsequent steps of the nursing process, such as developing outcomes and planning interventions. The other steps mentioned are part of the nursing process but occur either before or after the diagnosis analysis. Assessing is the initial phase that occurs before data collection; implementing refers to the actions taken after planning and developing outcomes to address the identified needs; and developing outcomes follows the diagnosis analysis, as it sets measurable goals for the client's recovery.