Which sequence correctly lists the five components of the nursing process in order?

• A. Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
• B. Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, Nursing Diagnosis
• C. Nursing Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Evaluation, Implementation
• D. Assessment, Evaluation, Planning, Implementation, Nursing Diagnosis

Answer: (A)

The nursing process follows a data-driven, step-by-step flow: start with gathering and interpreting patient data, use that information to identify problems (nursing diagnosis), plan actions to address those problems, implement the planned interventions, and then evaluate the outcomes to see if goals were met and adjust as needed. This exact sequence—Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation—keeps care grounded in the patient’s current condition and guides purposeful, coordinated actions.

Why this order is best: you can’t plan effectively without first knowing what issues exist, and you can’t evaluate whether actions worked until you’ve implemented them. Moving planning before you’ve completed assessment leaves you without essential information. Evaluation before implementation cannot measure the effectiveness of interventions. And the nursing diagnosis follows from the assessment data to inform the planning, so it must come before planning.

So the correct sequence embodies data collection → problem identification → planning → action → evaluation, with evaluation looping back to reassessment as needed.