The Nursing Care Model is holistically concerned with human responses to actual or potential health problems. Through interpersonal processes, nurses meet the health needs of individuals, families, and communities as integrated entities having a wide range of health related responses (ANA, 1990). Nurses have high regard for self-determination, independence, and choice in decision making in matters of health. Nursing has spheres of independent practice and interdependent practice with other disciplines. The professional process of nursing has been called the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation. The nursing process is client/patient oriented with participation of the client/patient at every stage.

1. Assessment is the systematic and continuous collection of information about the health status of the individual, family, group, or community. Problems and strengths/assets are assessed including those in physical, psychological, social, and spiritual realms.
2. Diagnosis is the judgments made about the assessment data based on significant findings, inferences, and hunches.
3. Planning includes prioritization of problems and planned actions to address concerns. Plans are outcome driven and they involve client/patient participation as much as possible. Plans encompass health promotion, maintenance, and restoration.
4. Intervention includes the collaborative efforts of nurse and client in the implementation of the plan of care.
5. Evaluation is the flexible, ongoing process to determine correct assessment data, accurate diagnosis, appropriate plan, and effective implementation.

The client's/patient's progress or lack of progress toward goal achievement is determined by the client/patient and the nurse. Reassessment, reordering of priorities, new goal setting, and revision of the plan of nursing care is done.

Taptich, B. Iyer, P., & Bernoccchi-Losey, D. (1994). Nursing diagnosis and care planning (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. American Nurses' Association (1980). Nursing: A social policy statement. Kansas City, MO: American Nurses' Association.