Nursing is a complex job, which is why a process exists to make sure that every aspect of it is handled professionally. As a nurse, you can work in a number of settings including hospitals and clinics. However, you can only provide the highest level of care to the patients by following the right process. The most common nursing process taught to student nurses is known as ADPIE and consists of five steps. These steps are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Here’s how you will get through each of these steps as a nurse: 

1. Assessment: 

The first step of the nursing process is assessment. Nurses are supposed to conduct an assessment as soon as a patient checks into a medical facility. Assessment involves interviewing the patients to ask them about their symptoms and their self-diagnosis. At this point, nurses also ask the patients about their medical history, psychological condition, and family interactions. 

Along with interviewing the patients, nurses also observe their body language and check their vitals. If necessary, a nurse might also talk to the family of a patient. If the symptoms of a patient suggest simple problems like dehydration, nurses start the treatment on their own. However, if the symptoms point towards something serious, nurses forward the information to other healthcare professionals. 

2. Diagnosis: 

Based on the data gathered during the assessment, nurses can eliminate or identify potential diagnoses. However, nurses rarely diagnose a patient independently. In medical settings, nurses make an important part of a broader medical team. They work with physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, and chiropractors, depending on the condition of the patient. 

The team benefits greatly from the information gathered by nurses during the assessment of a patient. Every medical professional involved in the team evaluate the condition and symptoms of the benefit to arrive at a conclusion. Sometimes, nurses also suggest a possible diagnosis based on their experience. Although a physician makes the final decision, it is greatly influenced by the work of nurses. 

3. Planning – The Most Important Step of the Nursing Process: 

The process of planning decides how the medical team will get through the final two steps of ADPIE. In some cases, patients also participate in the planning of their treatment. However, if a patient is suffering from a psychological condition, they are not made a part of serious consultations. 

During the planning stage, nurses set action-oriented and achievable goals concerning the treatment of the patient. The aim behind these goals is to help patients recover quickly. However, it is important to set realistic goals so as not to burden yourself and the patient. 

4. Implementation: 

The fourth step is when the treatment plan is put into action. As a nurse, implementation is when you will administer treatment to achieve the goals you set for yourself during the third step. The care you will have to provide to the patient will depend on their diagnosis and the treatment plan. 

The nursing process during implementation: 

The nursing process can involve actively monitoring the blood pressure and blood sugar level of the patient during the fourth step. In some cases, nurses have to provide direct care by performing minor medical procedures. 

Another important aspect of the implementation step is to share the reactions of the patients to the treatment with the medical team. Based on the assessment provided by the nurses, medical teams can change the treatment plans to speed up the recovery of a patient. 

5. Evaluation: 

As the treatment process comes to an end, nurses closely observe the patients to understand the changes in their conditions. Nurses also interview patients during the final step of ADPIE to make sure they have benefitted from the treatment plan. The results of the evaluation process can help medical teams during the next treatment cycle. 

Evaluation is also highly important for the care teams. Along with medications and medical procedures, indirect care provided by carers and nurses is also very important for patients. The evaluation can help care teams figure out whether they need to make any changes to their strategy to improve the condition of the patients. 

The nursing process enables nurses to complete their daily tasks professionally. If you have the full understanding of the ADPIE process and are looking for a job, don’t hesitate to reach out to ESGO. We can help you connect with employers who are in search of qualified nurses like you.