Which phase of the nursing process involves defining the patient’s problems?

The phase of the nursing process that involves defining the patient’s problems is the Diagnosis phase. During this stage, nurses analyze the data collected during the Assessment phase to identify specific issues or health problems faced by the patient. This includes synthesizing information from various sources, recognizing patterns, and determining the most pertinent medical diagnoses or nursing diagnoses based on the clinical data.

The diagnosis serves as a critical component because it informs the subsequent phases of the nursing process. Following a thorough assessment, which gathers comprehensive information about the patient’s condition, the nursing diagnosis establishes a clear understanding of the patient’s needs and guides planning and implementation of appropriate interventions. This phase is foundational, as it translates observations and assessments into actionable insights that shape care delivery.