<p>Since its adoption from the US some 20 years ago, the nursing process and its essential component the individualised patient care plan, have been promoted as the theoretical and philosophical basis of British nursing and the method of organising and delivering care. It was introduced against a background of discontent with existing ways of nursing and its aim was to integrate nursing theory and practice and implement more satisfactory methods of care delivery (Daws 1988). However, there is evidence to suggest that the use of the nursing process and care planning has been difficult (Audit Commission 1991, Batehup and Evans 1992, McMahon 1988).</p>