Goals/outcomes should be written with the client as the subject. Which option best demonstrates this?

• A. Ambulation will be achieved
• B. The client will walk 20 ft with a walker
• C. The patient will receive ambulation assistance
• D. Nursing staff will ambulate the patient

Answer: (B)

Focusing on the client as the subject makes the outcome about what the client will actually do, and how success will be measured. The best option says the client will walk 20 ft with a walker. It specifies the exact action (walking), the distance (20 ft), and the device used (a walker), so clinicians can clearly assess whether the goal is achieved. This is patient-centered and observable.

Other options describe actions by staff or use vague language about ambulation. For example, statements about staff ambulating the patient or about the patient receiving ambulation assistance focus on provider tasks rather than the client’s performance, and thus are not as useful for measuring the client’s progress.