What step is a component of the planning phase for a patient who has impaired skin integrity?

• A. Involve the patient and family in choosing interventions.
• B. Apply standards of practice outlining expected outcomes.
• C. Examine the patient's skin for impairment of skin integrity.
• D. Ask the patient for his or her perception of skin integrity after the intervention.

Answer: (A)

Planning focuses on turning assessment findings into a care plan that the patient can live with. A central part of this phase is involving the patient and family in choosing interventions. When you collaborate with them, the plan reflects their preferences, daily routines, and resources, which helps ensure goals are realistic and the chosen interventions are feasible and acceptable. This shared decision-making also supports adherence and ownership of the care plan, which is especially important for ongoing skin care, pressure relief, nutrition, and wound management.

Examination of the skin for impairment is an assessment task done before planning, to determine the current state of skin integrity. Asking the patient about his or her perception after the intervention belongs to evaluating outcomes once care has been implemented. Applying standards of practice outlining expected outcomes can guide planning, but the emphasis in this scenario is on partnering with the patient and family to shape the plan.