NMC Person-Centred Care Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting a person-centred care plan, which element is most critical to include to reflect the individual's priorities?
- The nurse's clinical assessment findings only
- The patient's own words describing their goals and preferences (Correct answer)
- Standard hospital protocol checklists
- The physician's treatment orders
Correct answer: The patient's own words describing their goals and preferences
NMC standards require care plans to capture the patient's own expressed goals and preferences to be truly person-centred.
Question 2: A patient with diabetes refuses to follow the prescribed dietary plan. Under a person-centred approach, what is the nurse's best first action?
- Document the refusal and continue standard care
- Explore the reasons behind the refusal and negotiate a mutually acceptable plan (Correct answer)
- Contact the physician immediately to change the prescription
- Educate the patient until they agree to comply
Correct answer: Explore the reasons behind the refusal and negotiate a mutually acceptable plan
Person-centred care requires understanding the patient's perspective and working collaboratively to find acceptable solutions.
Question 3: The NMC Code requires nurses to ensure care plans are regularly reviewed. How frequently should a person-centred care plan typically be formally reviewed in an acute setting?
- Only when the patient's condition deteriorates
- At least every 24 hours or when there is a significant change (Correct answer)
- Weekly regardless of condition
- At discharge only
Correct answer: At least every 24 hours or when there is a significant change
In acute settings, NMC guidance recommends reviewing care plans at least every 24 hours or when clinical conditions change.
Question 4: Which framework best supports nurses in structuring a holistic person-centred assessment?
- The medical model focusing solely on pathophysiology
- Roper-Logan-Tierney Activities of Living model (Correct answer)
- The financial assessment framework
- The risk management matrix only
Correct answer: Roper-Logan-Tierney Activities of Living model
The Roper-Logan-Tierney model addresses all activities of living, supporting a holistic person-centred assessment.
Question 5: A care plan is described as 'SMART.' What does the 'A' in SMART goals stand for in the context of person-centred care planning?
- Automatic
- Achievable (Correct answer)
- Acute
- Assessed
Correct answer: Achievable
In SMART goal-setting, 'A' stands for Achievable, meaning goals must be realistic and attainable for the patient.
Question 6: When a patient lacks capacity to participate in their care plan, who should the nurse primarily involve according to NMC and MCA principles?
- The most senior nurse on the ward
- The patient's nominated next of kin or legal advocate acting in the patient's best interests (Correct answer)
- The hospital management team
- Only the multidisciplinary clinical team
Correct answer: The patient's nominated next of kin or legal advocate acting in the patient's best interests
Under the Mental Capacity Act, decisions must be made in the patient's best interests, involving their advocate or nominated representative.
Question 7: Which practice best demonstrates continuity of person-centred care during a shift handover?
- Giving a brief verbal update only about medications
- Sharing the patient's individualised care plan goals and any changes in preferences (Correct answer)
- Handing over only abnormal vital signs
- Delegating all communication to the charge nurse
Correct answer: Sharing the patient's individualised care plan goals and any changes in preferences
Sharing the patient's individual goals and preference updates ensures continuity of person-centred care across shifts.
NMC Person-Centred Care Planning 2
When documenting a person-centred care plan, which element is most critical to include to reflect the individual's priorities?