Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is used to

• A. Understand the interrelationships of basic human needs
• B. Assess nutritional status
• C. Determine staff workloads
• D. Predict hospital readmission rates

Answer: (A)

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs helps us understand how different levels of human needs relate to one another and why some needs take priority in care planning. In nursing, this model shows that basic physiological needs—such as hunger, thirst, sleep, pain control, and safety—must be addressed before a patient can effectively focus on higher-level goals like self-esteem or personal growth. By recognizing the interrelationships of these needs, nurses can prioritize interventions to ensure the most pressing needs are met first, which supports better recovery, learning, and adherence to treatment. It isn’t used for assessing nutritional status, determining staff workloads, or predicting readmission rates, but rather for framing how unmet needs influence behavior and outcomes.