In health promotion, which phase of the nursing process is primarily used to set goals and anticipate outcomes?

• A. Planning
• B. Assessment
• C. Implementation
• D. Evaluation

Answer: (A)

Setting goals and anticipating outcomes happens during planning. In this phase, the nurse uses information gathered about the child and family to establish specific, measurable goals and the expected results of care. Planning creates the roadmap for what success looks like and how progress will be measured, aligning interventions with health-promotion aims such as increasing knowledge, promoting safer behaviors, or improving use of preventive services. It’s the step where outcomes are envisioned in advance and a plan is laid out to achieve them, guiding what will be done and when. By contrast, assessment gathers the initial information, implementation carries out the chosen actions, and evaluation checks whether the goals and outcomes were achieved and informs adjustments for the future.