A diaphragm pacing system, comprising: an electrode assembly including a plurality of electrodes; at least one sensor (12, 14) configured to monitor a patient response to electrical stimulation; and a stimulation control unit configured to: deliver a series of first electrical stimulations to a nerve via each of a first plurality of electrode combinations one at a time; receive input from the at least one sensor (12, 14) indicative of first patient responses to the series of first electrical stimulations; select a first subset of the first plurality of electrode combinations based on the first patient responses indicating that the first subset is in proximity to the nerve; based on suitability for nerve stimulation, select a second plurality of electrode combinations from the electrodes within the first subset of the first plurality of electrode combinations; deliver a series of second electrical stimulations to the nerve via each of the second plurality of electrode combinations one at a time; receive input from the at least one sensor (12, 14) indicative of second patient responses to the series of second electrical stimulations; and based on the second patient responses, select a second subset of the second plurality of electrode combinations, wherein the second subset includes at least one electrode combination having a greater second patient response than other of the second plurality of electrode combinations. an electrode assembly including a plurality of electrodes; at least one sensor (12, 14) configured to monitor a patient response to electrical stimulation; and a stimulation control unit configured to: deliver a series of first electrical stimulations to a nerve via each of a first plurality of electrode combinations one at a time; receive input from the at least one sensor (12, 14) indicative of first patient responses to the series of first electrical stimulations; select a first subset of the first plurality of electrode combinations based on the first patient responses indicating that the first subset is in proximity to the nerve; based on suitability for nerve stimulation, select a second plurality of electrode combinations from the electrodes within the first subset of the first plurality of electrode combinations; deliver a series of second electrical stimulations to the nerve via each of the second plurality of electrode combinations one at a time; receive input from the at least one sensor (12, 14) indicative of second patient responses to the series of second electrical stimulations; and based on the second patient responses, select a second subset of the second plurality of electrode combinations, wherein the second subset includes at least one electrode combination having a greater second patient response than other of the second plurality of electrode combinations. deliver a series of first electrical stimulations to a nerve via each of a first plurality of electrode combinations one at a time; receive input from the at least one sensor (12, 14) indicative of first patient responses to the series of first electrical stimulations; select a first subset of the first plurality of electrode combinations based on the first patient responses indicating that the first subset is in proximity to the nerve; based on suitability for nerve stimulation, select a second plurality of electrode combinations from the electrodes within the first subset of the first plurality of electrode combinations; deliver a series of second electrical stimulations to the nerve via each of the second plurality of electrode combinations one at a time; receive input from the at least one sensor (12, 14) indicative of second patient responses to the series of second electrical stimulations; and based on the second patient responses, select a second subset of the second plurality of electrode combinations, wherein the second subset includes at least one electrode combination having a greater second patient response than other of the second plurality of electrode combinations.