Monitoring is a continuous and systematic process of collecting, recording, reviewing and using information about the implementation of a health programme or service. It helps determine whether planned activities are being carried out according to the prescribed objectives, standards, time schedule and available resources. In nursing and health services, monitoring is an important managerial function because it enables nurses and health-care administrators to identify problems at an early stage and take appropriate corrective action. Monitoring is usually conducted during the implementation of a programme and focuses on inputs, activities, processes and immediate outputs. For example, in a maternal and child health programme, monitoring may include checking the number of antenatal visits conducted, availability of essential medicines, immunization coverage, maintenance of records, performance of health workers and availability of equipment. The information obtained through monitoring helps the nursing personnel and health administrators understand whether services are being delivered as planned. Evaluation, on the other hand, is a systematic process of determining the extent to which the objectives of a health programme or service have been achieved. It involves collecting and analysing information and comparing actual results with predetermined objectives, standards or criteria. Evaluation is generally concerned not only with what has been done but also with the effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, relevance and impact of the services provided. Thus, evaluation helps determine whether a programme has produced the desired changes in the health status of individuals, families or communities. Monitoring and evaluation are closely related but are not identical. Monitoring is a continuous process that mainly observes progress during implementation, whereas evaluation is a periodic or systematic assessment of the value, effectiveness and outcomes of a programme. Monitoring provides information that can be used during evaluation, while evaluation helps determine whether the programme should be continued, modified, expanded or discontinued. In nursing foundation, understanding monitoring and evaluation is essential because nurses are directly involved in the planning, implementation, supervision, documentation and assessment of health-care services. Nurses may monitor patient care, infection-control practices, immunization services, nutrition programmes, maternal and child health services, health education activities and community health interventions. They also participate in evaluating whether these services are meeting the health needs of the population. The evaluation of health services serves several important purposes. The first purpose is to determine whether the objectives of a health programme have been achieved. Every health service is established with certain objectives, such as reducing maternal mortality, improving immunization coverage, controlling infections, promoting healthy behaviour or improving patient satisfaction. Evaluation helps determine the degree to which these objectives have been accomplished. A second