What Nursing Interventions Should the Nurse Perform? A Comprehensive Guide

October 2, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the American Nurses Association, nursing interventions are any treatments or procedures that a nurse performs to enhance patient outcomes. But for many, the vast scope of these actions remains unclear. So, what nursing interventions should the nurse perform in a variety of clinical situations to ensure comprehensive, patient-centered care?

Quick Summary

Nursing interventions are purposeful actions derived from the nursing process to address a patient's physical, emotional, and educational needs. They can be independent, dependent on a physician's order, or collaborative, ensuring holistic and coordinated care for optimal recovery and well-being.

Key Points

Nursing Process Framework: All interventions are based on a five-step, systematic approach that begins with assessment and ends with evaluation.
Independent Interventions: Nurses perform these actions, such as monitoring vitals and patient education, autonomously.
Dependent Interventions: These interventions, like administering medication, require a specific physician's order.
Collaborative Care: Successful patient outcomes often involve working with a multidisciplinary team.
Prioritization is Key: Frameworks like Maslow's Hierarchy and the ABCs help nurses address the most critical needs first.
Holistic Approach: Effective interventions address not just physical symptoms but also emotional, behavioral, and educational needs.

The Core Framework: The Nursing Process

Before a nurse performs any intervention, they first follow the systematic, five-step Nursing Process (ADPIE), which includes Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Interventions are planned during the 'P' (planning) and carried out during the 'I' (implementation) phases. This structured approach ensures interventions are evidence-based, tailored to the patient's specific needs, and evaluated for effectiveness. It provides a roadmap for consistent, high-quality care across all healthcare settings.

Classifying Nursing Interventions

Nursing interventions are not all created equal; they fall into three main categories based on the level of autonomy the nurse has in initiating them.

Independent Interventions

These are actions nurses are licensed to initiate on their own, without requiring a physician’s order. Examples include:

Monitoring vital signs and reporting significant changes.
Repositioning a bedridden patient to prevent pressure ulcers.
Providing basic patient education on healthy lifestyle choices or disease management.
Using therapeutic communication techniques, such as active listening and providing emotional support.
Implementing non-pharmacological comfort measures, like heat or cold packs.

Dependent Interventions

These are actions that a nurse must have a specific physician's order to perform. While the nurse follows the directive, they also use their clinical judgment to question or recommend alternatives if they believe a better option exists. Examples include:

Administering prescribed medication.
Inserting a urinary catheter.
Starting or adjusting an intravenous (IV) line.
Performing advanced respiratory care like oxygen therapy.

Collaborative Interventions

Also known as interdependent interventions, these actions require the input and coordination of other healthcare team members, such as doctors, physical therapists, or dietitians. Examples include:

Developing a rehabilitation plan with a physical therapist for a post-surgery patient.
Consulting with a respiratory therapist for a patient with deteriorating oxygen saturation.
Involving a dietitian to create a specific dietary plan for a patient with diabetes.

Prioritizing Interventions Effectively

When facing multiple patient needs, nurses use prioritization frameworks to determine the most critical actions. The most common are:

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: This framework places physiological needs (e.g., breathing, hydration, pain management) as the highest priority, followed by safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization needs. A nurse would address a patient's breathing difficulty before providing educational materials.
The ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation): In a critical situation, nurses use the ABCs to focus on immediate life-threatening issues.
Acute vs. Chronic: Nurses prioritize acute, or sudden, conditions over chronic, long-term issues that are part of a pre-existing plan. Unexpected or worsening symptoms, even in a chronic condition, would be prioritized.

Specific Nursing Intervention Examples

Physiological and Safety Interventions

Pain Management: Assess pain levels regularly using a standardized scale. Administer prescribed analgesics and implement non-pharmacological techniques like relaxation and repositioning.
Wound Care: Assess the wound's condition, cleanse, and apply appropriate dressings using aseptic techniques to prevent infection.
Fall Prevention: Keep hospital beds in the lowest position, ensure call lights are within reach, and educate patients on safety measures.
Infection Control: Adhere to strict hand hygiene protocols and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Behavioral and Educational Interventions

Therapeutic Communication: Build rapport and trust by actively listening, showing empathy, and providing clear, concise information about procedures.
Emotional Support: Create a calm environment and encourage patients to express their feelings, especially those experiencing anxiety or depression.
Patient Teaching: Educate patients about their medication, condition, and self-care techniques to empower them in their recovery.

Comparison of Intervention Types


Feature	Independent Intervention	Dependent Intervention	Collaborative Intervention
Definition	Actions initiated by the nurse without a physician's order.	Actions initiated based on a physician's order.	Actions involving teamwork with other healthcare professionals.
Initiating Authority	Nurse	Physician	Healthcare Team
Examples	Repositioning, active listening, basic patient education.	Medication administration, IV insertion, catheter insertion.	Physical therapy, dietary consultation, respiratory therapy.
Documentation	Required	Required	Required

Conclusion

Nursing interventions are the action-oriented steps of the nursing process, directly contributing to patient safety, comfort, and recovery. By understanding the different types—independent, dependent, and collaborative—and using structured prioritization frameworks, nurses can effectively deliver the highest standard of evidence-based, patient-centered care. The nurse's ability to assess, plan, and implement these interventions is critical to achieving positive health outcomes for every patient. For more detailed information on the nursing process, including the role of interventions, consult the NCBI Bookshelf: Nursing Process.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference lies in the authority to initiate the action. An independent intervention is an action the nurse can perform on their own, based on their training and judgment (e.g., repositioning a patient), while a dependent intervention requires a physician's specific order (e.g., administering a prescribed medication).

Nurses often prioritize using frameworks such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs or the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). They address the most immediate and life-threatening physiological needs first, followed by safety concerns and then other psychological or educational needs.

Common safety interventions include implementing fall prevention strategies (keeping beds low, ensuring clear pathways), practicing meticulous hand hygiene to prevent infection, and educating patients on safety protocols.

Therapeutic communication is a vital intervention for addressing emotional and psychological needs. By actively listening, showing empathy, and providing clear information, nurses build trust and help patients navigate stress and anxiety, which can improve overall outcomes.

Patient education is a key nursing intervention, used to empower patients with knowledge about their condition, medications, and self-care techniques. It's crucial for managing chronic conditions and preventing complications after discharge.

Collaborative interventions involve working with the broader healthcare team. For example, a nurse may collaborate with a physical therapist on a patient's mobility plan or with a dietitian to manage a patient's nutritional needs.

Evaluation is the final step of the nursing process and is essential for determining if the interventions were successful in meeting the patient's goals. It allows the nurse to reassess, adjust the care plan, and ensure the most effective care is being provided.