What is the purpose of a nursing care plan?

The purpose of a nursing care plan is to guide patient care based on individual needs and assessments. A nursing care plan is developed after a thorough assessment of the patient’s health status, which includes their medical history, physical examination findings, and specific needs or concerns. It outlines the nursing diagnosis, expected outcomes, and the interventions that will be implemented to address the patient's unique situation.

By focusing on individual needs, the nursing care plan ensures that care is tailored to each patient, promoting effective and personalized treatment. It allows for organized and systematic delivery of care, enabling nurses to prioritize interventions and make informed decisions that are aligned with the patient's goals. This individualized approach is fundamental to providing high-quality nursing care and improving patient outcomes.

The other options, while they highlight important aspects of nursing and interprofessional collaboration, do not capture the primary role of a nursing care plan as effectively. Documenting patient history and physical exams is essential for record-keeping but is not the main purpose of the care plan itself. Similarly, providing a rationale for interventions and informing the multidisciplinary team are important functions that contribute to overall patient care, but they stem from the base purpose of the care plan, which is to guide care according to individual assessment findings.