If outcomes were not met, what is the first step?

• A. Begin with assessment to determine WHY they were not met
• B. Immediately change all interventions
• C. Terminate the plan and discharge the patient
• D. Wait and retest without changing anything

Answer: (A)

When outcomes aren’t met, the first step is to assess to determine why they were not met. This means reviewing the plan and the data to understand where the gap lies: did the intervention fail to be implemented as intended, are there patient-specific factors, or are there system barriers that blocked success? This diagnostic step helps you identify the actual root causes, so you can target changes effectively rather than guessing.

By starting with assessment, you avoid premature changes to interventions, which could be misaligned with the real issue. If you jump straight to changing everything, you might fix the wrong problem or introduce new problems. Discharging the patient or abandoning the plan isn’t appropriate when outcomes fall short, and simply waiting and retesting without making any change wastes time and misses the chance to improve care.