A patient recently received a diagnosis of pneumonia.The nurse and the patient have established a goal that the patient will not experience shortness of breath with activity in 3 days,with an expected outcome of having no secretions present in the lungs in 48 hours.Which of the following is an appropriate evaluative measure demonstrating progress toward this goal?

A) Nonproductive cough present in 4 days.
B) Scattered rhonchi throughout all lung fields in 2 days.
C) Respirations 30/minute in 1 day.
D) Lungs clear to auscultation after use of inhaler.

Goals are broad statements that describe changes in a patient's condition or behaviour.Expected outcomes are shorter term measurable criteria used to evaluate goal achievement.When an outcome is met,the patient is making progress toward goal achievement.In this case,the patient's goal is to not experience shortness of breath with activity in 3 days.One way to achieve this goal is to eliminate respiratory secretions in the airway.The nurse can evaluate this expected outcome by assessing the patient's lung sounds.If the lung sounds are clear,at least periodically throughout the day,the nurse can determine that the patient is making progress toward achieving the expected outcome.The time frame of 4 days in the first option is not appropriate because this time frame exceeds the time frame stated in the goal.Scattered rhonchi indicate fluid in the lungs,and a respiratory rate of 30 per minute is higher than normal.Either of these indicates that the patient is still probably experiencing respiratory distress.