What is a nursing intervention?

A nursing intervention is defined as an action taken by a nurse to help a patient achieve specific health outcomes or goals. This encompasses a broad range of activities, including administering medications, providing education, monitoring vital signs, and supporting patient mobility, among others. The essence of nursing interventions lies in their purpose: they are specifically designed to address the individual needs of a patient based on their unique circumstances and care plans.

In this context, the focus on helping patients achieve their goals underscores the dynamic nature of nursing practice, where interventions are frequently adjusted based on ongoing assessments and evaluations of a patient's status. It's essential for nursing interventions to be both patient-centered and evidence-based, ensuring that the actions taken will lead to the desired improvements in health.

The other options describe related aspects of nursing but do not capture the definition of what constitutes a nursing intervention itself. Evaluating a patient’s response to treatment reflects an assessment process rather than an action. A written record pertains to documentation, which is crucial for communication but is not an intervention on its own. Collaborating with other healthcare providers is significant in holistic patient care, yet it also does not directly define a nursing intervention, which is specifically an action taken by a nurse.