Professional Standards of Nursing Questions and Answers

Professional Standards of Nursing Questions and Answers What are the four Professional Standards? Standard 1: Professional Responsibility and Accountability. Standard 2: Knowledge-Based Practice. Standard 3: Client-Focused Provision of Service. Standard 4: Ethical Practice What is a standard? A standard is an expected and achievable level of performance against which actual performance can be compared. It is the minimum level of acceptable performance. The Professional Standards, which are one set of standards under the umbrella of CRNBC Standards of Practice, are statements about levels of performance that nurses are required to achieve in their practice. The Professional Standards: Reflect the values of the nursing profession; Clarify what the profession expects of nurses; Represent the criteria against which nurses' practice in British Columbia is measured by clients, employers, colleagues, themselves and others . Why have Professional Standards? The primary purpose of the Professional Standards is to promote, guide and direct professional practice. The Professional Standards are used by individual nurses, the public, employers, CRNBC and other stakeholders. How does the Standards help nurses? The Professional Standards are used by registered nurses and nurse practitioners to: Better understand their professional obligations; Support their own continuing competence and professional development; Explain what nursing is and what nurses do; Advocate for changes to policies and practices; Define and resolve professional practice problems; Include in nursing education courses/programs. What is Standard 1? Standard 1: Professional Responsibility and Accountability: Maintains standards of nursing practice and professional conduct determined by CRNBC. Clinical Practice 1. Is accountable and takes responsibility for own nursing actions and professional conduct. 2. Functions within own level of competence, within the legally recognized scope of practice and within all relevant legislation.2 3. Assesses own practice and undertakes activities to improve practice and meet identified learning goals on an ongoing basis.3, 4 4. Takes action5 to promote the provision of safe, appropriate and ethical care to clients. 5. Advocates for and/or helps to develop policies and practices consistent with the standards of the profession. 6. Maintains own physical, psychological and emotional fitness to practice. 7. Maintains current registration. 8. Understands the role of the regulatory body and the relationship of the regulatory body to one's own practice. What is Standard 2? Standard 2: Knowledge-Based Practice: Consistently applies knowledge, skills and judgment in nursing practice. Clinical Practice 1. Bases practice on current evidence from nursing science and other sciences and humanities. 2. Knows how and where to access information to support the provision of safe, competent and ethical client care. 3. Uses critical thinking when collecting and interpreting data, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care. 4. Collects information on client status from a variety of sources6 using assessment skills, including observation, communication, physical assessment and a review of pertinent clinical data. 5. Identifies, analyzes and uses relevant and valid information when making decisions about client status. 6. Communicates client status, using verifiable information, in terminology used in the practice setting. 7. Develops and communicates plans of care that include assessment data, decisions about client status, planned interventions and measurement of client outcomes. 8. Sets client-centred priorities when planning and providing care. 9. Uses decision support tools appropriately to assess and make decisions about client status and plan care. 10. Implements the plan of care, evaluates client's response and revises the plan as necessary. 11. Documents timely7 and appropriate reports of assessments, decisions about client status, plans, interventions and client outcomes. 12. Shares nursing knowledge with clients, colleagues, students and others. 13. Communicates appropriately8 in interactions with clients, colleagues, students and others. What is Standard 3? Standard 3: Client-Focused Provision of Service: Provides nursing services and works with others to provide health care services in the best interest of clients. Clinical Practice 1. Communicates, collaborates and consults with clients and other members of the health care team10 about the client's care. 2. Coordinates client care in a way that facilitates continuity for the client. 3. Assigns11 clients and client care activities to other members of the health care team to meet client care needs. 4. Delegates appropriately to other members of the health care team. 5. Provides appropriate regulatory supervision of student activities. 6. Instructs and guides other members of the health care team to meet client care needs. 7. Participates in changes that improve client care and nursing practice. 8. Reports incompetent or impaired practice or unethical conduct to appropriate person or body. 9. Understands and communicates the role of nursing in the health of clients. 10. Assists clients to learn about the health care system and accessing appropriate health care services. What is Standard 4? Standard 4: Ethical Practice: Understands, upholds and promotes the ethical standards of the nursing profession.13 Clinical Practice 1. Makes the client the primary concern in providing nursing care. 2. Provides care in a manner that preserves and protects client dignity. 3. Demonstrates honesty and integrity. 4. Clearly and accurately represents self with respect to name, title and role. 5. Protects client privacy and confidentiality. 6. Recognizes, respects and promotes the client's right to be informed and make informed choices. 7. Promotes and maintains respectful communication in all professional interactions.14 8. Treats colleagues, students and other health care workers in a respectful manner. 9. Recognizes and respects the contribution of others on the health care team. 10. Makes equitable decisions about the allocation of resources15 under one's control based on the needs of clients. 11. Identifies the effect of own values, beliefs and experiences in carrying out clinical activities; recognizes potential conflicts and takes action to prevent or resolve. 12. Identifies ethical issues; consults with the appropriate person or body; takes action to resolve and evaluates the effectiveness of actions. 13. Initiates, maintains and terminates nurse-client relationships in an appropriate manner.