During care planning, residents should be encouraged to set goals that are ...

• A. Ambitious but unrealistic.
• B. Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
• C. Left to the nurse's discretion.
• D. Not discussed to avoid increasing anxiety.

Answer: (B)

Setting care plan goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This approach gives residents clear, concrete targets and a practical plan for reaching them. Specific means the goal states exactly what the resident will do, such as walking for a certain amount of time or completing a routine, rather than a vague aim. Measurable means there is a way to track progress, like counting minutes, steps, or servings. Achievable ensures the goal fits the resident’s current abilities and available resources, so it’s realistic and safe. Relevant keeps the goal aligned with the resident’s health needs and daily life, making it personally meaningful. Time-bound attaches a deadline to create motivation and a schedule for regular review. Involving the resident in setting these goals makes care collaborative and makes it easier to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed. For example, a resident might aim to walk 15 minutes twice daily for two weeks and then reassess. Goals that are overly ambitious, left to the nurse alone, or not discussed with the resident can lead to frustration, anxiety, and poor adherence, whereas SMART goals promote empowerment and safer, more effective progress.