In a care plan, what term describes the criteria used to determine if goals are achieved?

Study for the Health CBE Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

In a care plan, what term describes the criteria used to determine if goals are achieved?

Measurable outcomes are the criteria you use to decide whether a goal has been reached. In a care plan, goals state the desired change, while measurable outcomes specify exact, observable, and often numeric signs that indicate progress. These outcomes give objective evidence that the goal is being achieved and allow you to evaluate progress over time. For example, if a goal is to reduce pain, a measurable outcome might be “pain rated 2 or less on a 0–10 scale for two consecutive shifts.” If the goal is to improve mobility, a measurable outcome could be “ambulate 150 feet with a walker three times daily by discharge.” Timelines indicate when to assess progress, but they’re about scheduling, not the criteria themselves. Selected interventions are the actions taken to reach the goals.

Measurable outcomes are the criteria you use to decide whether a goal has been reached. In a care plan, goals state the desired change, while measurable outcomes specify exact, observable, and often numeric signs that indicate progress. These outcomes give objective evidence that the goal is being achieved and allow you to evaluate progress over time. For example, if a goal is to reduce pain, a measurable outcome might be “pain rated 2 or less on a 0–10 scale for two consecutive shifts.” If the goal is to improve mobility, a measurable outcome could be “ambulate 150 feet with a walker three times daily by discharge.” Timelines indicate when to assess progress, but they’re about scheduling, not the criteria themselves. Selected interventions are the actions taken to reach the goals.

More practice questions