Modern definitions and philosophies of nursing

The term nursing process was first introduced by Lydia Hall in 1955. In 1966 Virginia Henderson identified basic nursing actions as independent functions and stated that the nursing process uses the same steps as the scientific method. Since 1973, nursing educators and clinicians began to use the five-step process model on a regular basis.

Nursing process is a systematic problem-solving method for providing individualized care for clients in all states of health. The client is viewed as an individual and a member of a social unit that includes the family and significant others. The nurse includes the client and family and significant others in each step of nursing care.

The nursing process has five interrelated steps: assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. During the assessment phase, information about the client is gathered to identify client problems. The collected information is analyzed, and specific client health care problems are stated during the nursing diagnosis step. During the planning step, goals expected outcomes and nursing care are planned with the client. Actual nursing care is delivered during the implementation phase. The evaluation step allows the nurse and client to evaluate the success of nursing care through achievement of client goals and expected outcomes. These sequential steps provide a systematic format that ensures continuity of client care and maintenance of professional standards while assisting clients to regain, maintain, or promote health.

The nursing process is the unifying concept of nursing; it is the method by which nursing is practiced systematically and provides the means by which nurses demonstrate accountability and responsibility to clients and families.