Which of the following is one of the four nursing aims?

• A. Promote health
• B. Relieve pain
• C. Diagnose illness
• D. Perform surgery

Answer: (A)

Nursing aims encompass promoting health, preventing illness, restoring health, and alleviating suffering. The best choice here matches that broad aim by focusing on promoting health, which is a central purpose of nursing practice. Nurses plan and deliver care to help individuals stay well and improve their health status. The other options relate to actions outside the four broad nursing aims: relieving pain is part of alleviating suffering, but it’s not listed as one of the four main aims itself; diagnosing illness is typically the physician’s role; performing surgery is a medical procedure.