Monitoring and Evaluation
In the “Nursing Process” section of this textbook, monitoring and evaluation are grouped together, even though they are different in practice. In reality, monitoring preceded evaluation as a way to stay on top of progress or difficulties the client is experiencing. Box 1.10 offers general monitoring suggestions. Evaluation assesses whether client outcomes were achieved after the nursing care plan was given time to work. Given the limitations inherent in an abstract nursing care plan, monitoring and evaluation are combined in this textbook.
Ideally, the client’s outcome are achieved on a timely basis, and evaluation statements are client outcome rewritten from “the client will” to “the client is.” In reality,
outcomes may be only partially met or not achieved at all; in those instances it is important to determine why the result was less than ideal . Were the outcomes realistic for this particular client? Were the interventions appropriate and consistently implemented? Evaluation includes deciding whether to continue, change, or abolish the plan.