What does DAR stand for in nursing documentation?

• A. Data, Action, Response
• B. Diagnosis, Assessment, Report
• C. Date, time, signature
• D. Data, Analysis, Result

Answer: (A)

This question tests your understanding of the DAR notation used in nursing documentation. DAR stands for Data, Action, Response. In a DAR note, you start with Data—the observations and information you collected about the patient, including objective measurements (vital signs, lab results, exam findings) and subjective input from the patient. Next is Action—the nursing interventions you performed, such as treatments, medications administered, procedures done, and patient education provided. Finally is Response—the patient’s outcome after those actions, noting improvements, changes in condition, or adverse effects. This structure makes it clear what was observed, what was done, and what happened as a result, supporting continuity of care and evaluation of care effectiveness. The other options mix different concepts (like diagnosis or report, dated metadata, or research-style data analysis) and don’t align with how the DAR format organizes nursing documentation.