Which term describes a framework that defines specific nursing interventions to achieve patient goals, predict outcomes, and guide practice?

• A. Prescriptive nursing theory
• B. Environmental theory
• C. Scientific inquiry
• D. Goals of nursing research

Answer: (A)

The term describes an action-oriented framework that goes beyond describing patient conditions to specify nursing interventions that help patients achieve goals and predict outcomes, thereby guiding clinical practice. This kind of theory links what nurses do with measurable results, offering concrete prescriptions for care and the expected outcomes so care plans are both patient-centered and outcome-driven.

In contrast, environmental theory focuses on how surroundings influence health rather than prescribing specific actions; scientific inquiry is the general process of investigating phenomena rather than a framework for clinical prescriptions; and goals of nursing research refer to the aims of research projects rather than the day-to-day interventions used in practice.