What is the NMC Code?
The UK NMC Code, also known as “The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates”, is a vital document that outlines the ethical and professional standards that all registered nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the UK must uphold. It serves as a foundation for safe and effective practice and is central to the revalidation process for these healthcare professionals.
It’s structured around 4 key themes:
- Prioritize people:
- Treat individuals with kindness, respect, and compassion.
- Listen to their concerns and preferences.
- Act in their best interests at all times.
- Respect their dignity and privacy.
- Practice effectively:
- Deliver safe and effective care based on evidence and best practice.
- Maintain your knowledge and skills through continuous learning.
- Work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals and patients.
- Be accountable for your actions and decisions.
- Preserve safety:
- Identify and manage risks to patients and service users.
- Report any incidents or concerns promptly.
- Work within the limits of your competence.
- Act to protect patients from harm.
- Promote professionalism and trust:
- Be honest and transparent in your practice.
- Maintain confidentiality and respect patient privacy.
- Promote equality and diversity.
- Uphold the reputation of the nursing and midwifery professions.
Additional points:
- The Code is not a rulebook, but rather a set of principles that can be applied in different situations.
- Nurses, midwives, and nursing associates are expected to use their professional judgment to interpret the Code and apply it to their practice.
- The NMC can take disciplinary action against individuals who breach the Code.
- The NMC Code is freely available on their website and can be downloaded in various formats: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/
Understanding and applying the principles of the NMC Code is essential for all registered nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the UK. It ensures they are delivering safe, effective, and ethical care to their patients.
The NMC Code, Accountability, Responsibility, and Delegation: Lessons from the Francis Report for UK Nurses, Midwives, and Nursing Associates
The concepts of accountability, responsibility, and delegation are fundamental to ethical nursing practice in the UK, and understanding them is crucial for success in Domain 1 of the NMC CBT. The Francis Report, a landmark inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of these principles in ensuring patient safety and quality care.
Accountability:
- NMC Code: The NMC Code states that nurses, midwives, and nursing associates are “accountable for the decisions they make and the actions they take” (Standard 9). This means being answerable for your practice and being able to justify your decisions and actions to patients, colleagues, and the public.
- Francis Report: The report highlighted a culture of “avoidance of accountability” at Mid Staffordshire, where concerns about patient care were ignored or downplayed. This led to devastating consequences for patients.
Responsibility:
- NMC Code: The NMC Code emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for your own practice (Standard 8). This includes being aware of your limitations, seeking help when needed, and refusing to delegate tasks beyond your competence.
- Francis Report: The report identified a lack of individual responsibility among some staff at Mid Staffordshire, where concerns were not raised or acted upon. This contributed to the systemic failures that occurred.
Delegation:
- NMC Code: The NMC Code outlines the principles of safe and effective delegation (Standard 15). This includes ensuring the delegate is competent, providing clear instructions, and monitoring their performance. However, the Code emphasizes that “accountability for the overall care of the patient remains with the registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate” (Standard 15).
- Francis Report: The report found that delegation at Mid Staffordshire was often inappropriate, with tasks being delegated to unqualified or unsupervised staff. This led to errors and poor care.
Applying these principles in practice:
- Always be mindful of your accountability and responsibility as a registered nurse, midwife, or nursing associate.
- Delegate tasks appropriately, ensuring the delegate is competent and you provide clear instructions and supervision.
- Never delegate away your ultimate responsibility for patient care.
- Raise concerns about patient safety or poor practice promptly and appropriately.
- Learn from the lessons of the Francis Report and strive to create a culture of openness, honesty, and accountability in your workplace.
By understanding and applying these principles, you can contribute to a safer and more ethical healthcare environment for patients and yourself.
Remember:
- The Francis Report serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of failing to uphold accountability, responsibility, and safe delegation in nursing practice.
- By integrating these principles into your daily practice, you can demonstrate your commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered care.
Visit the NMC website for more information and to read the Code in its entirety.
Here are some helpful links:
- The NMC website: https://www.nmc.org.uk/
- The Code online: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-code.pdf
NMC CBT Questions Based on Code
1. What is the purpose of The NMC Code?
a) It outlines specific tasks or clinical procedures
b) It ascertains in detail a nurse’s or midwife’s clinical expertise
c) It is a tool for educating prospective nurses and midwives
ANS: b) It ascertains in detail a nurse’s or midwife’s clinical expertise
2. What do you mean by a code of ethics?
A) Legal activities of a registered nurse who works in the UK
B) Legislative body to control nurses
C) A set of fashion guidelines for nurses.
D) A list of technical skills required for nurses.
ANS: A) Legal activities of a registered nurse who works in the UK
3. The Code contains the professional standards that registered nurses and midwives must uphold. UK nurses and midwives must act in line with the Code, whether they are providing direct care to individuals, groups, or communities or bringing their professional knowledge to bear on nursing and midwifery practice in other roles; such as leadership, education, or research.
What 4 Key areas does the code cover:
a) Prioritise people, practice effectively, preserve safety, promote professionalism and trust
b) Prioritise people, practice safely, preserve dignity, promote professionalism and trust
c) Prioritise care, practice effectively, preserve security, promote professionalism and trust
d) Prioritise care, practice safely, preserve security, promote kindness and trust
ANS: a) Prioritise people, practice effectively, preserve safety, promote professionalism and trust
4. The code is the foundation of
a) Dress code
b) Personal document
c) Good nursing & midwifery practice & a key tool in safeguarding the health &wellbeing of the public
d) Hospital administration
ANS: c) Good nursing & midwifery practice & a key tool in safeguarding the health &wellbeing of the public
5. According to the NMC Standards Code and Conduct, a registered nurse is EXCLUDED from legal action in which one of these?
a) Fixed penalty for speeding
b) Possessing stock medications
c) Convicted for fraud
d) Convicted for theft
ANS: a) Fixed penalty for speeding
6. The NMC Code expects nurses to safeguard the health and well-being of the public through the use of the best available evidence
in practice. Which of the following nursing actions will ensure this?
a) using isopropyl alcohol 70% to wipe skin prior to cannulation
b) suggesting healthcare products or services that are still trialed
c) ensure that the use of complementary or alternative therapies is safe and in the best interest of those in your care
d) all
ANS: c) ensure that the use of complementary or alternative therapies is safe and in the best interest of those in your care
7. Among the following values incorporated in NMC’s 6 C’s, which is not included?
a) Care
b) Courage
c) Confidentiality
d) Communication
ANS: c) Confidentiality
8. Which of the following is NOT one of the six fundamental values for nursing, midwifery, and care staff set out in compassion in
Practice Nursing, Midwifery & care staff?
a) Care
b) Consideration
c) Communication
d) Compassion
Ans: b) Consideration
9. A nurse delegates duty to a health assistant, what NMC standard she should keep in mind while doing this?
a) She transfers the accountability to the care assistant
b) The RN is accountable for the care assistant’s actions
c) No need to assess the competency, as the care assistant is an expert in her care area
d) The healthcare assistant is accountable to only her senior
Ans: b) RN is accountable for the care assistant’s actions
10. According to the law in England, the UK when you are faced with a situation of emergency what is your action?
a) Should not assist when it is outside of the work environment
b) Law insists you to stop and assist
c) You are not obliged in any way but as a professional duty advise you to stop and assist
d) Do not involved in the situation
Ans: c) You are not obliged in any way but as a professional duty advise you to stop and assist
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