When a patient achieves a goal, what should the nurse decide next?

When a patient achieves a goal, what should the nurse decide next?

• A. Continue or discontinue the goal
• B. Create a new higher goal immediately
• C. Document as completed and stop
• D. Notify physician only

Answer: (A)

When a patient meets a goal, the next step is to re-evaluate and decide how to proceed with the care plan. If the goal has been achieved but the improvement needs to be maintained, you may continue the same goal to ensure the gains are sustained. If the goal has been fully met and no further progression is needed, you can discontinue it. In some cases, after reaching a goal, you may set a new, higher goal to promote additional progress, but that depends on the patient’s ongoing status and needs. The core action is to either continue or discontinue the goal based on current achievement and ongoing relevance to the patient’s plan.

When a patient meets a goal, the next step is to re-evaluate and decide how to proceed with the care plan. If the goal has been achieved but the improvement needs to be maintained, you may continue the same goal to ensure the gains are sustained. If the goal has been fully met and no further progression is needed, you can discontinue it. In some cases, after reaching a goal, you may set a new, higher goal to promote additional progress, but that depends on the patient’s ongoing status and needs. The core action is to either continue or discontinue the goal based on current achievement and ongoing relevance to the patient’s plan.