How to Write a Nursing Care Plan
Quick answer: A nursing care plan documents a patient’s needs and the care to meet them, usually following the APIE nursing process: Assessment, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation. Identify the patient’s problems from a holistic assessment, set SMART goals, plan evidence-based interventions, then evaluate the outcomes — all person-centred and NMC-aligned.
The APIE nursing process
- Assessment — gather holistic data (e.g. using Roper–Logan–Tierney’s activities of living or an A–E assessment).
- Planning — identify problems and set SMART, patient-centred goals.
- Implementation — carry out evidence-based nursing interventions.
- Evaluation — review whether goals were met and revise the plan.
Set SMART goals
Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound — e.g. ‘The patient will mobilise 10 metres with a frame by day 3.’
Use a nursing model
A framework structures your assessment. Roper–Logan–Tierney’s twelve activities of living is widely used in UK nursing, but Orem’s self-care model and others are also accepted — follow your module’s preference.
Keep it person-centred and NMC-aligned
- Base interventions on current evidence (NICE, NMC).
- Involve the patient in goal-setting.
- Maintain dignity, consent and confidentiality.
- Document clearly and evaluate honestly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the APIE nursing process?
A four-stage cycle — Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation — that structures how nurses plan and deliver care. Some models add Nursing Diagnosis (ADPIE).
What nursing model should I use?
Roper–Logan–Tierney’s activities of living is common in the UK, but Orem and others are used too — check your module.
What are SMART goals in nursing?
Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, so progress can be evaluated objectively.
Should a care plan be evidence-based?
Yes — interventions should draw on current NICE and NMC guidance and be referenced in academic work.
Is a care plan person-centred?
It should be — the patient is involved in setting goals, and care respects dignity, consent and individual needs.