Data collection occurs where in the nursing process?

A. Planning: Planning involves setting goals and interventions based on data collected, but data collection itself is not part of this phase. B. Diagnosis: Diagnosis involves analyzing collected data to identify health issues, but data collection is a separate process that occurs before this phase. C. Evaluation: Evaluation assesses the effectiveness of interventions and progress towards goals, but data collection is performed earlier in the process. D. Assessment: Data collection is a fundamental part of the assessment phase in the nursing process, where information is gathered to identify patient needs and conditions.