Which term describes establishing a baseline and determining a client's potential and need for help?

• A. Observation
• B. Assessment
• C. Icons
• D. Kardex

Answer: (B)

Establishing a baseline and figuring out a client’s potential and need for help is described by assessment. Assessment is a structured, systematic process of gathering and interpreting information about a person’s health, abilities, and resources. It creates initial data—the baseline—from which progress can be measured and from which care plans or interventions are developed. While observing someone is part of collecting data, assessment uses formal methods and tools (interviews, tests, measurements) to determine what support the person requires. The other terms aren’t aligned with this process: Kardex is a planning/recordkeeping tool for tasks, not a defining of need, and icons isn’t a term used for evaluating a client.