discharge planning


planning

 [plan´ing] consciously setting forth a scheme to achieve a desired end or goal. The planning phase of the nursing process provides a blueprint for interventions" >nursing interventions to achieve specified goals. A plan of nursing care includes nursing diagnoses arranged in order of priority, goals or objectives that give direction and purpose to nursing intervention, nursing orders that encompass nursing activities necessary to achieve specified goals, and criteria by which it is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing intervention and the plan of care. In most instances the goals or objectives can be used as outcome criteria for the evaluation phase of the process.
Goals or objectives in the plan" >care plan should be stated in behavioral terms, that is, they should describe what the patient will be able to do as a result of nursing interventions. If they are to be useful as criteria for evaluation, they should be measurable and realistic. Nursing orders are the nursing actions and patient activities prescribed by the nurse to achieve the stated goals and objectives.discharge planning in the nursing interventions classification, a intervention" >nursing intervention defined as preparation for moving a patient from one level of care to another within or outside the current health care agency. See also planner" >discharge planner.family planning the practice of birth control measures within the context of family values, attitudes, and beliefs; including oral contraceptives, diaphragm, condom, and planning" >natural family planning; see also contraception.family planning, natural methods of avoiding conception without the use of artificial contraceptive means; see discussion under contraception. Called also fertility awareness methods.family planning: contraception in the nursing interventions classification, a intervention" >nursing intervention defined as facilitation of pregnancy prevention by providing information about the physiology of reproduction and methods to control conception. See also contraception.family planning: infertility in the nursing interventions classification, a intervention" >nursing intervention defined as management, education, and support of the patient and significant other undergoing evaluation and treatment for infertility.family planning: unplanned pregnancy in the nursing interventions classification, a intervention" >nursing intervention defined as facilitation of decision making regarding pregnancy outcome.

dis·charge plan·ning

(dis'chahrj plan'ing) nursing Interdisplinary, collaborative process that involves evaluating patients' needs and developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for continuing, follow-up, or rehabilitation care.

discharge planning

Any strategy used to facilitate outpatient care for someone currently receiving inpatient health services. It may include the identification of the proposed date of hospital discharge, a program for the use of professional, institutional, or familial home health services, a review of the appropriate use of prescriptions and their side effects, instructions for the use of durable medical equipment, and a list of appointments for follow-up care.