Section 2: Standards for Competence

All nurses must practise with confidence according to The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives (NMC 2008), and within other recognised ethical and legal frameworks. They must be able to recognise and address ethical challenges relating to people’s choices and decision-making about their care, and act within the law to help them and their families and carers find acceptable solutions.

Adult nurses must understand and apply current legislation to all service users, paying special attention to the protection of vulnerable people, including those with complex needs arising from ageing, cognitive impairment, long-term conditions and those approaching the end of life.

All nurses must support and promote the health, wellbeing, rights and dignity of people, groups, communities and populations. These include people whose lives are affected by ill health, disability, ageing, death and dying. Nurses must understand how these activities influence public health.

All nurses must understand the roles and responsibilities of other health and social care professionals, and seek to work with them collaboratively for the benefit of all who need care.

All nurses must be responsible and accountable for keeping their knowledge and skills up to date through continuing professional development. They must aim to improve their performance and enhance the safety and quality of care through evaluation, supervision and appraisal.

​All nurses must practise independently, recognising the limits of their competence and knowledge. They must reflect on these limits and seek advice from, or refer to, other professionals where necessary.

All nurses must appreciate the value of evidence in practice, be able to understand and appraise research, apply relevant theory and research findings to their work, and identify areas for further investigation.

Adult nurses must promote the concept, knowledge and practice of self-care with people with acute and long-term conditions, using a range of communication skills and strategies.

All nurses must use therapeutic principles to engage, maintain and, where appropriate, disengage from professional caring relationships, and must always respect professional boundaries.

All nurses must take every opportunity to encourage health-promoting behaviour through education, role modelling and effective communication.

All nurses must maintain accurate, clear and complete records, including the use of electronic formats, using appropriate and plain language.

All nurses must respect individual rights to confidentiality and keep information secure and confidential in accordance with the law and relevant ethical and regulatory frameworks, taking account of local protocols. They must also actively share personal information with others when the interests of safety and protection override the need for confidentiality.

​All nurses must use up-to-date knowledge and evidence to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care, communicate findings, influence change and promote health and best practice. They must make person-centred, evidence-based judgments and decisions, in partnership with others involved in the care process, to ensure high quality care. They must be able to recognise when the complexity of clinical decisions requires specialist knowledge and expertise, and consult or refer accordingly.

​Adult nurses must be able to recognise and respond to the needs of all people who come into their care including babies, children and young people, pregnant and postnatal women, people with mental health problems, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities, older people, and people with long term problems such as cognitive impairment.

All nurses must possess a broad knowledge of the structure and functions of the human body, and other relevant knowledge from the life, behavioural and social sciences as applied to health, ill health, disability, ageing and death. They must have an in-depth knowledge of common physical and mental health problems and treatments in their own field of practice, including co-morbidity and physiological and psychological vulnerability.

All nurses must carry out comprehensive, systematic nursing assessments that take account of relevant physical, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, genetic and environmental factors, in partnership with service users and others through interaction, observation and measurement.

​Adult nurses must safely use a range of diagnostic skills, employing appropriate technology, to assess the needs of service users.

​All nurses must ascertain and respond to the physical, social and psychological needs of people, groups and communities. They must then plan, deliver and evaluate safe, competent, person-centred care in partnership with them, paying special attention to changing health needs during different life stages, including progressive illness and death, loss and bereavement.

Adult nurses must safely use invasive and non-invasive procedures, medical devices, and current technological and pharmacological interventions, where relevant, in medical and surgical nursing practice, providing information and taking account of individual needs and preferences.

Adult nurses must recognise and respond to the changing needs of adults, families and carers during terminal illness. They must be aware of how treatment goals and service users’ choices may change at different stages of progressive illness, loss and bereavement.

All nurses must understand public health principles, priorities and practice in order to recognise and respond to the major causes and social determinants of health, illness and health inequalities. They must use a range of information and data to assess the needs of people, groups, communities and populations, and work to improve health, wellbeing and experiences of healthcare; secure equal access to health screening, health promotion and healthcare; and promote social inclusion.

All nurses must practise safely by being aware of the correct use, limitations and hazards of common interventions, including nursing activities, treatments, and the use of medical devices and equipment. The nurse must be able to evaluate their use, report any concerns promptly through appropriate channels and modify care where necessary to maintain safety. They must contribute to the collection of local and national data and formulation of policy on risks, hazards and adverse outcomes.

All nurses must be able to recognise and interpret signs of normal and deteriorating mental and physical health and respond promptly to maintain or improve the health and comfort of the service user, acting to keep them and others safe.

Adult nurses must recognise the early signs of illness in people of all ages. They must make accurate assessments and start appropriate and timely management of those who are acutely ill, at risk of clinical deterioration, or require emergency care.

Adult nurses must understand the normal physiological and psychological processes of pregnancy and childbirth. They must work with the midwife and other professionals and agencies to provide basic nursing care to pregnant women and families during pregnancy and after childbirth. They must be able to respond safely and effectively in an emergency to safeguard the health of mother and baby.

All nurses must provide educational support, facilitation skills and therapeutic nursing interventions to optimise health and wellbeing. They must promote self-care and management whenever possible, helping people to make choices about their healthcare needs, involving families and carers where appropriate, to maximise their ability to care for themselves.

​Adult nurses must work in partnership with people who have long-term conditions that require medical or surgical nursing, and their families and carers, to provide therapeutic nursing interventions, optimise health and wellbeing, facilitate choice and maximise self-care and self-management.

​All nurses must be able to recognise when a person is at risk and in need of extra support and protection and take reasonable steps to protect them from abuse.

​All nurses must evaluate their care to improve clinical decision-making, quality and outcomes, using a range of methods, amending the plan of care, where necessary, and communicating changes to others.

All nurses must act as change agents and provide leadership through quality improvement and service development to enhance people’s wellbeing and experiences of healthcare.

All nurses must systematically evaluate care and ensure that they and others use the findings to help improve people’s experience and care outcomes and to shape future services.

All nurses must be able to identify priorities and manage time and resources effectively to ensure the quality of care is maintained or enhanced.

All nurses must be self-aware and recognise how their own values, principles and assumptions may affect their practice. They must maintain their own personal and professional development, learning from experience, through supervision, feedback, reflection and evaluation.

All nurses must facilitate nursing students and others to develop their competence, using a range of professional and personal development skills.  

All nurses must work independently as well as in teams. They must be able to take the lead in coordinating, delegating and supervising care safely, managing risk and remaining accountable for the care given.

All nurses must work effectively across professional and agency boundaries, actively involving and respecting others’ contributions to integrated person-centred care. They must know when and how to communicate with and refer to other professionals and agencies in order to respect the choices of service users and others, promoting shared decision making, to deliver positive outcomes and to coordinate smooth, effective transition within and between services and agencies.

All nurses must practise with confidence according to The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives (NMC 2008), and within other recognised ethical and legal frameworks. They must be able to recognise and address ethical challenges relating to people’s choices and decision-making about their care, and act within the law to help them and their families and carers find acceptable solutions.

Children’s nurses must understand the laws relating to child and parental consent, including giving and refusing consent, withdrawal of treatment and legal capacity.

All nurses must practise in a holistic, non-judgmental, caring and sensitive manner that avoids assumptions, supports social inclusion; recognises and respects individual choice; and acknowledges diversity. Where necessary, they must challenge inequality, discrimination and exclusion from access to care.

Children’s nurses must recognise that all children and young people have the right to be safe, enjoy life and reach their potential. They must practise in a way that recognises, respects and responds to the individuality of every child and young person. 

All nurses must support and promote the health, wellbeing, rights and dignity of people, groups, communities and populations. These include people whose lives are affected by ill health, disability, inability to engage, ageing or death. Nurses must act on their understanding of how these conditions influence public health.

Children’s nurses must act as advocates for the right of all children and young people to lead full and independent lives. 

All nurses must work in partnership with service users, carers, groups, communities and organisations. They must manage risk, and promote health and wellbeing while aiming to empower choices that promote self-care and safety.

Children’s nurses must work in partnership with children, young people and their families to negotiate, plan and deliver child and family-centred care, education and support. They must recognise the parent’s or carer’s primary role in achieving and maintaining the child’s or young person’s health and wellbeing, and offer advice and support on parenting in health and illness.

All nurses must fully understand the nurse’s various roles, responsibilities and functions, and adapt their practice to meet the changing needs of people, groups, communities and populations.

​All nurses must understand the roles and responsibilities of other health and social care professionals, and seek to work with them collaboratively for the benefit of all who need care.

​All nurses must be responsible and accountable for keeping their knowledge and skills up to date through continuing professional development. They must aim to improve their performance and enhance the safety and quality of care through evaluation, supervision and appraisal.

All nurses must practise independently, recognising the limits of their competence and knowledge. They must reflect on these limits and seek advice from, or refer to, other professionals where necessary.

​All nurses must appreciate the value of evidence in practice, be able to understand and appraise research, apply relevant theory and research findings to their work, and identify areas for further investigation.

​All nurses must build partnerships and therapeutic relationships through safe, effective and non-discriminatory communication. They must take account of individual differences, capabilities and needs.

Children’s nurses must work with the child, young person and others to ensure that they are actively involved in decision-making, in order to maintain their independence and take account of their ongoing intellectual, physical and emotional needs.

​All nurses must use a range of communication skills and technologies to support person-centred care and enhance quality and safety. They must ensure people receive all the information they need in a language and manner that allows them to make informed choices and share decision making. They must recognise when language interpretation or other communication support is needed and know how to obtain it.

Children’s nurses must understand all aspects of development from infancy to young adulthood, and identify each child or young person’s developmental stage, in order to communicate effectively with them. They must use play, distraction and communication tools appropriate to the child’s or young person’s stage of development, including for those with sensory or cognitive impairment.

​All nurses must use the full range of communication methods, including verbal, non-verbal and written, to acquire, interpret and record their knowledge and understanding of people’s needs. They must be aware of their own values and beliefs and the impact this may have on their communication with others. They must take account of the many different ways in which people communicate and how these may be influenced by ill health, disability and other factors, and be able to recognise and respond effectively when a person finds it hard to communicate.

​Children’s nurses must ensure that, where possible, children and young people understand their healthcare needs and can make or contribute to informed choices about all aspects of their care.

​All nurses must recognise when people are anxious or in distress and respond effectively, using therapeutic principles, to promote their wellbeing, manage personal safety and resolve conflict. They must use effective communication strategies and negotiation techniques to achieve best outcomes, respecting the dignity and human rights of all concerned. They must know when to consult a third party and how to make referrals for advocacy, mediation or arbitration.

All nurses must use therapeutic principles to engage, maintain and, where appropriate, disengage from professional caring relationships, and must always respect professional boundaries.

All nurses must take every opportunity to encourage health-promoting behaviour through education, role modelling and effective communication. ​

​All nurses must maintain accurate, clear and complete records, including the use of electronic formats, using appropriate and plain language.

​All nurses must respect individual rights to confidentiality and keep information secure and confidential in accordance with the law and relevant ethical and regulatory frameworks, taking account of local protocols. They must also actively share personal information with others when the interests of safety and protection override the need for confidentiality.

All nurses must use up-to-date knowledge and evidence to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care, communicate findings, influence change and promote health and best practice. They must make person-centred, evidence-based judgments and decisions, in partnership with others involved in the care process, to ensure high quality care. They must be able to recognise when the complexity of clinical decisions requires specialist knowledge and expertise, and consult or refer accordingly.​

Children’s nurses must be able to recognise and respond to the essential needs of all people who come into their care including babies, pregnant and postnatal women, adults, people with mental health problems, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities, and people with long term problems such as cognitive impairment.

Children’s nurses must use recognised, evidence-based, child-centred frameworks to assess, plan, implement, evaluate and record care, and to underpin clinical judgments and decision-making. Care planning and delivery must be informed by knowledge of pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, pathology, psychology and sociology, from infancy to young adulthood.

All nurses must possess a broad knowledge of the structure and functions of the human body, and other relevant knowledge from the life, behavioural and social sciences as applied to health, ill health, disability, ageing and death. They must have an in-depth knowledge of common physical and mental health problems and treatments in their own field of practice, including co-morbidity and physiological and psychological vulnerability.

All nurses must carry out comprehensive, systematic nursing assessments that take account of relevant physical, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, genetic and environmental factors, in partnership with service users and others through interaction, observation and measurement.

Children’s nurses must carry out comprehensive nursing assessments of children and young people, recognising the particular vulnerability of infants and young children to rapid physiological deterioration.

​All nurses must ascertain and respond to the physical, social and psychological needs of people, groups and communities. They must then plan, deliver and evaluate safe, competent, person-centred care in partnership with them, paying special attention to changing health needs during different life stages, including progressive illness and death, loss and bereavement.

​All nurses must understand public health principles, priorities and practice in order to recognise and respond to the major causes and social determinants of health, illness and health inequalities. They must use a range of information and data to assess the needs of people, groups, communities and populations, and work to improve health, wellbeing and experiences of healthcare; secure equal access to health screening, health promotion and healthcare; and promote social inclusion

​Children’s nurses must include health promotion, and illness and injury prevention, in their nursing practice. They must promote early intervention to address the links between early life adversity and adult ill health, and the risks to the current and future physical, mental, emotional and sexual health of children and young people.

​All nurses must practise safely by being aware of the correct use, limitations and hazards of common interventions, including nursing activities, treatments, the calculation and administration of medicines, and the use of medical devices and equipment. The nurse must be able to evaluate their use, report any concerns promptly through appropriate channels and modify care where necessary to maintain safety. They must contribute to the collection of local and national data and formulation of policy on risks, hazards and adverse outcomes.

Children’s nurses must have numeracy skills for medicines management, assessment, measuring, monitoring and recording which recognise the particular vulnerability of infants and young children in relation accurate medicines calculation.

​All nurses must be able to recognise and interpret signs of normal and deteriorating mental and physical health and respond promptly to maintain or improve the health and comfort of the service user, acting to keep them and others safe.

​All nurses must provide educational support, facilitation skills and therapeutic nursing interventions to optimise health and wellbeing. They must promote self-care and management whenever possible, helping people to make choices about their healthcare needs, involving families and carers where appropriate, to maximise their ability to care for themselves.

Children’s nurses must use negotiation skills to ensure the best interests of children and young people in all decisions, including the continuation or withdrawal of care. Negotiation must include the child or young person, their family and members of the multidisciplinary and interagency team where appropriate.

All nurses must be able to recognise when a person is at risk and in need of extra support and protection and take reasonable steps to safeguard them against abuse.

Children’s nurses must understand their central role in preventing maltreatment, and safeguarding children and young people. They must work closely with relevant agencies and professionals, and know when and how to identify and refer those at risk or experiencing harm.

All nurses must evaluate their care to improve clinical decision-making, quality and outcomes, using a range of methods, amending the plan of care, where necessary, and communicating changes to others.

All nurses must act as change agents and provide leadership through quality improvement and service development to enhance people’s wellbeing and experiences of healthcare.

Children’s nurses must understand health and social care policies relating to the health and wellbeing of children and young people. They must, where possible, empower and enable children, young people, parents and carers to influence the quality of care and develop future policies and strategies.

Children’s nurses must ensure that, wherever possible, care is delivered in the child or young person’s home, or in another environment that suits their age, needs and preferences.

​All nurses must systematically evaluate care and ensure that they and others use the findings to help improve people’s experience and care outcomes and to shape future services.

​All nurses must be able to identify priorities and manage time and resources effectively to ensure the quality of care is maintained or enhanced.

​All nurses must be self-aware and recognise how their own values, principles and assumptions may affect their practice. They must maintain their own personal and professional development, learning from experience, through supervision, feedback, reflection and evaluation.

All nurses must facilitate nursing students and others to develop their competence, using a range of professional and personal development skills.

All nurses must work independently as well as in teams. They must be able to take the lead in coordinating, delegating and supervising care safely, managing risk and remaining accountable for the care given.

​Children’s nurses must use effective clinical decision-making skills when managing complex and unpredictable situations, especially where the views of children or young people and their parents and carers differ. They must recognise when to seek extra help or advice to manage the situation safely.

​All nurses must work effectively across professional and agency boundaries, actively involving and respecting others’ contributions to integrated person-centred care. They must know when and how to communicate with and refer to other professionals and agencies in order to respect the choices of service users and others, promoting shared decision making, to deliver positive outcomes and to coordinate smooth, effective transition within and between services and agencies.

Children’s nurses must work effectively with young people who have continuing health needs, their families, the multidisciplinary team and other agencies to manage smooth and effective transition from children’s services to adult services, taking account of individual needs and preferences.

​All nurses must practise with confidence according to The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives (NMC 2008), and within other recognised ethical and legal frameworks. They must be able to recognise and address ethical challenges relating to people’s choices and decision-making about their care, and act within the law to help them and their families and carers find acceptable solutions.

​Learning disabilities nurses must understand and apply current legislation to all service users, paying special attention to the protection of vulnerable people, including those with complex needs arising from ageing, cognitive impairment, long-term conditions and those approaching the end of life.

All nurses must practise in a holistic, non-judgmental, caring and sensitive manner that avoids assumptions, supports social inclusion; recognises and respects individual choice; and acknowledges diversity. Where necessary, they must challenge inequality, discrimination and exclusion from access to care.

Learning disabilities nurses must always promote the autonomy, rights and choices of people with learning disabilities and support and involve their families and carers, ensuring that each person’s rights are upheld according to policy and the law​.

​All nurses must support and promote the health, wellbeing, rights and dignity of people, groups, communities and populations. These include people whose lives are affected by ill health, disability, inability to engage, ageing or death. Nurses must act on their understanding of how these conditions influence public health.

Learning disabilities nurses must use their knowledge and skills to exercise professional advocacy, and recognise when it is appropriate to refer to independent advocacy services to safeguard dignity and human rights.

​All nurses must work in partnership with service users, carers, groups, communities and organisations. They must manage risk, and promote health and wellbeing while aiming to empower choices that promote self-care and safety.

Learning disabilities nurses must recognise that people with learning disabilities are full and equal citizens, and must promote their health and wellbeing by focusing on and developing their strengths and abilities.

All nurses must fully understand the nurse’s various roles, responsibilities and functions, and adapt their practice to meet the changing needs of people, groups, communities and populations.

All nurses must understand the roles and responsibilities of other health and social care professionals, and seek to work with them collaboratively for the benefit of all who need care.

All nurses must be responsible and accountable for keeping their knowledge and skills up to date through continuing professional development. They must aim to improve their performance and enhance the safety and quality of care through evaluation, supervision and appraisal.

​All nurses must practise independently, recognising the limits of their competence and knowledge. They must reflect on these limits and seek advice from, or refer to, other professionals where necessary.

All nurses must appreciate the value of evidence in practice, be able to understand and appraise research, apply relevant theory and research findings to their work, and identify areas for further investigation.​

All nurses must build partnerships and therapeutic relationships through safe, effective and non-discriminatory communication. They must take account of individual differences, capabilities and needs.

Learning disabilities nurses must use the full range of person-centred alternative and augmentative communication strategies and skills to build partnerships and therapeutic relationships with people with learning disabilities

All nurses must use a range of communication skills and technologies to support person-centred care and enhance quality and safety. They must ensure people receive all the information they need in a language and manner that allows them to make informed choices and share decision making. They must recognise when language interpretation or other communication support is needed and know how to obtain it. ​

Learning disabilities nurses must be able to make all relevant information accessible to and understandable by people with learning disabilities, including adaptation of format, presentation and delivery.

All nurses must use the full range of communication methods, including verbal, non-verbal and written, to acquire, interpret and record their knowledge and understanding of people’s needs. They must be aware of their own values and beliefs and the impact this may have on their communication with others. They must take account of the many different ways in which people communicate and how these may be influenced by ill health, disability and other factors, and be able to recognise and respond effectively when a person finds it hard to communicate.

Learning disabilities nurses must use a structured approach to assess, communicate with, interpret and respond therapeutically to people with learning disabilities who have complex physical and psychological health needs or those in behavioural distress.

All nurses must recognise when people are anxious or in distress and respond effectively, using therapeutic principles, to promote their wellbeing, manage personal safety and resolve conflict. They must use effective communication strategies and negotiation techniques to achieve best outcomes, respecting the dignity and human rights of all concerned. They must know when to consult a third party and how to make referrals for advocacy, mediation or arbitration.

Learning disabilities nurses must recognise and respond therapeutically to the complex behaviour that people with learning disabilities may use as a means of communication. 

All nurses must use therapeutic principles to engage, maintain and, where appropriate, disengage from professional caring relationships, and must always respect professional boundaries.

All nurses must take every opportunity to encourage health-promoting behaviour through education, role modelling and effective communication.

All nurses must maintain accurate, clear and complete records, including the use of electronic formats, using appropriate and plain language.

​All nurses must respect individual rights to confidentiality and keep information secure and confidential in accordance with the law and relevant ethical and regulatory frameworks, taking account of local protocols. They must also actively share personal information with others when the interests of safety and protection override the need for confidentiality.

​All nurses must use up-to-date knowledge and evidence to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care, communicate findings, influence change and promote health and best practice. They must make person-centred, evidence-based judgments and decisions, in partnership with others involved in the care process, to ensure high quality care. They must be able to recognise when the complexity of clinical decisions requires specialist knowledge and expertise, and consult or refer accordingly.

Learning disabilities nurses must be able to recognise and respond to the needs of all people who come into their care including babies, children and young people, pregnant and postnatal women, people with mental health problems, people with physical health problems and disabilities, older people, and people with long term problems such as cognitive impairment.

All nurses must possess a broad knowledge of the structure and functions of the human body, and other relevant knowledge from the life, behavioural and social sciences as applied to health, ill health, disability, ageing and death. They must have an in-depth knowledge of common physical and mental health problems and treatments in their own field of practice, including co-morbidity and physiological and psychological vulnerability.

All nurses must carry out comprehensive, systematic nursing assessments that take account of relevant physical, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, genetic and environmental factors, in partnership with service users and others through interaction, observation and measurement.

Learning disabilities nurses must use a structured, person-centred approach to assess, interpret and respond therapeutically to people with learning disabilities, and their often complex, pre-existing physical and psychological health needs. They must work in partnership with service users, carers and other professionals, services and agencies to agree and implement individual care plans and ensure continuity of care.

All nurses must ascertain and respond to the physical, social and psychological needs of people, groups and communities. They must then plan, deliver and evaluate safe, competent, person-centred care in partnership with them, paying special attention to changing health needs during different life stages, including progressive illness and death, loss and bereavement.

All nurses must understand public health principles, priorities and practice in order to recognise and respond to the major causes and social determinants of health, illness and health inequalities. They must use a range of information and data to assess the needs of people, groups, communities and populations, and work to improve health, wellbeing and experiences of healthcare; secure equal access to health screening, health promotion and healthcare; and promote social inclusion.

​Learning disabilities nurses must lead the development, implementation and review of individual plans for all people with learning disabilities, to promote their optimum health and wellbeing and facilitate their equal access to all health, social care and specialist services.

All nurses must practise safely by being aware of the correct use, limitations and hazards of common interventions, including nursing activities, treatments, and the use of medical devices and equipment. The nurse must be able to evaluate their use, report any concerns promptly through appropriate channels and modify care where necessary to maintain safety. They must contribute to the collection of local and national data and formulation of policy on risks, hazards and adverse outcomes.

​All nurses must be able to recognise and interpret signs of normal and deteriorating mental and physical health and respond promptly to maintain or improve the health and comfort of the service user, acting to keep them and others safe.

All nurses must provide educational support, facilitation skills and therapeutic nursing interventions to optimise health and wellbeing. They must promote self-care and management whenever possible, helping people to make choices about their healthcare needs, involving families and carers where appropriate, to maximise their ability to care for themselves. 

​Learning disabilities nurses must work in partnership with people with learning disabilities and their families and carers to facilitate choice and maximise self-care and self-management and co-ordinate the transition between different services and agencies.

All nurses must be able to recognise when a person is at risk and in need of extra support and protection and take reasonable steps to protect them from abuse.

All nurses must evaluate their care to improve clinical decision-making, quality and outcomes, using a range of methods, amending the plan of care, where necessary, and communicating changes to others.

​All nurses must act as change agents and provide leadership through quality improvement and service development to enhance people’s wellbeing and experiences of healthcare.

Learning disabilities nurses must take the lead in ensuring that people with learning disabilities receive support that creatively addresses their physical, social, economic, psychological, spiritual and other needs, when assessing, planning and delivering care.

Learning disabilities nurses must provide direction through leadership and education to ensure that their unique contribution is recognised in service design and provision.

​All nurses must systematically evaluate care and ensure that they and others use the findings to help improve people’s experience and care outcomes and to shape future services.

Learning disabilities nurses must use data and research findings on the health of people with learning disabilities to help improve people’s experiences and care outcomes, and shape of future services.

​All nurses must be able to identify priorities and manage time and resources effectively to ensure the quality of care is maintained or enhanced.

​All nurses must be self-aware and recognise how their own values, principles and assumptions may affect their practice. They must maintain their own personal and professional development, learning from experience, through supervision, feedback, reflection and evaluation.

All nurses must facilitate nursing students and others to develop their competence, using a range of professional and personal development skills.

All nurses must work independently as well as in teams. They must be able to take the lead in coordinating, delegating and supervising care safely, managing risk and remaining accountable for the care given.

Learning disabilities nurses must use leadership, influencing and decision-making skills to engage effectively with a range of agencies and professionals. They must also be able, when needed, to represent the health needs and protect the rights of people with learning disabilities and challenge negative stereotypes.

Learning disabilities nurses must work closely with stakeholders to enable people with learning disabilities to exercise choice and challenge discrimination.​

All nurses must work effectively across professional and agency boundaries, actively involving and respecting others’ contributions to integrated person-centred care. They must know when and how to communicate with and refer to other professionals and agencies in order to respect the choices of service users and others, promoting shared decision making, to deliver positive outcomes and to coordinate smooth, effective transition within and between services and agencies.

​All nurses must practise with confidence according to The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives (NMC 2008), and within other recognised ethical and legal frameworks. They must be able to recognise and address ethical challenges relating to people’s choices and decision-making about their care, and act within the law to help them and their families and carers find acceptable solutions.

Mental health nurses must understand and apply current legislation to all service users, paying special attention to the protection of vulnerable people, including those with complex needs arising from ageing, cognitive impairment, long-term conditions and those approaching the end of life.

All nurses must practise in a holistic, non-judgmental, caring and sensitive manner that avoids assumptions, supports social inclusion; recognises and respects individual choice; and acknowledges diversity. Where necessary, they must challenge inequality, discrimination and exclusion from access to care.

​Mental health nurses must practise in a way that addresses the potential power imbalances between professionals and people experiencing mental health problems, including situations when compulsory measures are used, by helping people exercise their rights, upholding safeguards and ensuring minimal restrictions on their lives. They must have an in depth understanding of mental health legislation and how it relates to care and treatment of people with mental health problems.

All nurses must support and promote the health, wellbeing, rights and dignity of people, groups, communities and populations. These include people whose lives are affected by ill health, disability, inability to engage, ageing or death. Nurses must act on their understanding of how these conditions influence public health

Mental health nurses must promote mental health and wellbeing, while challenging the inequalities and discrimination that may arise from or contribute to mental health problems.

All nurses must work in partnership with service users, carers, groups, communities and organisations. They must manage risk, and promote health and wellbeing while aiming to empower choices that promote self-care and safety.  

Mental health nurses must work with people in a way that values, respects and explores the meaning of their individual lived experiences of mental health problems, to provide person-centred and recovery-focused practice.

All nurses must fully understand the nurse’s various roles, responsibilities and functions, and adapt their practice to meet the changing needs of people, groups, communities and populations.

​All nurses must understand the roles and responsibilities of other health and social care professionals, and seek to work with them collaboratively for the benefit of all who need care.

All nurses must be responsible and accountable for keeping their knowledge and skills up to date through continuing professional development. They must aim to improve their performance and enhance the safety and quality of care through evaluation, supervision and appraisal.

​All nurses must practise independently, recognising the limits of their competence and knowledge. They must reflect on these limits and seek advice from, or refer to, other professionals where necessary.

Mental health nurses must have and value an awareness of their own mental health and wellbeing. They must also engage in reflection and supervision to explore the emotional impact on self of working in mental health; how personal values, beliefs and emotions impact on practice, and how their own practice aligns with mental health legislation, policy and values-based frameworks.

​All nurses must appreciate the value of evidence in practice, be able to understand and appraise research, apply relevant theory and research findings to their work, and identify areas for further investigation.

All nurses must build partnerships and therapeutic relationships through safe, effective and non-discriminatory communication. They must take account of individual differences, capabilities and needs.

Mental health nurses must use skills of relationship-building and communication to engage with and support people distressed by hearing voices, experiencing distressing thoughts or experiencing other perceptual problems.

Mental health nurses must use skills and knowledge to facilitate therapeutic groups with people experiencing mental health problems and their families and carers.​

All nurses must use a range of communication skills and technologies to support person-centred care and enhance quality and safety. They must ensure people receive all the information they need in a language and manner that allows them to make informed choices and share decision making. They must recognise when language interpretation or other communication support is needed and know how to obtain it.

All nurses must use the full range of communication methods, including verbal, non-verbal and written, to acquire, interpret and record their knowledge and understanding of people’s needs. They must be aware of their own values and beliefs and the impact this may have on their communication with others. They must take account of the many different ways in which people communicate and how these may be influenced by ill health, disability and other factors, and be able to recognise and respond effectively when a person finds it hard to communicate.

​All nurses must recognise when people are anxious or in distress and respond effectively, using therapeutic principles, to promote their wellbeing, manage personal safety and resolve conflict. They must use effective communication strategies and negotiation techniques to achieve best outcomes, respecting the dignity and human rights of all concerned. They must know when to consult a third party and how to make referrals for advocacy, mediation or arbitration.

​Mental health nurses must be sensitive to, and take account of, the impact of abuse and trauma on people’s wellbeing and the development of mental health problems. They must use interpersonal skills and make interventions that help people disclose and discuss their experiences as part of their recovery.

All nurses must use therapeutic principles to engage, maintain and, where appropriate, disengage from professional caring relationships, and must always respect professional boundaries.

Mental health nurses must use their personal qualities, experiences and interpersonal skills to develop and maintain therapeutic, recovery-focused relationships with people and therapeutic groups. They must be aware of their own mental health, and know when to share aspects of their own life to inspire hope while maintaining professional boundaries.​

All nurses must take every opportunity to encourage health-promoting behaviour through education, role modelling and effective communication.

Mental health nurses must foster helpful and enabling relationships with families, carers and other people important to the person experiencing mental health problems. They must use communication skills that enable psychosocial education, problem-solving and other interventions to help people cope and to safeguard those who are vulnerable.​

All nurses must maintain accurate, clear and complete records, including the use of electronic formats, using appropriate and plain language.

​All nurses must respect individual rights to confidentiality and keep information secure and confidential in accordance with the law and relevant ethical and regulatory frameworks, taking account of local protocols. They must also actively share personal information with others when the interests of safety and protection override the need for confidentiality.

​All nurses must use up-to-date knowledge and evidence to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care, communicate findings, influence change and promote health and best practice. They must make person-centred, evidence-based judgments and decisions, in partnership with others involved in the care process, to ensure high quality care. They must be able to recognise when the complexity of clinical decisions requires specialist knowledge and expertise, and consult or refer accordingly.

​Mental health nurses must be able to recognise and respond to the needs of all people who come into their care including babies, children and young people, pregnant and postnatal women, people with physical health problems, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities, older people, and people with long term problems such as cognitive impairment.

​All nurses must possess a broad knowledge of the structure and functions of the human body, and other relevant knowledge from the life, behavioral and social sciences as applied to health, ill health, disability, ageing and death. They must have an in-depth knowledge of common physical and mental health problems and treatments in their own field of practice, including co-morbidity and physiological and psychological vulnerability.

All nurses must carry out comprehensive, systematic nursing assessments that take account of relevant physical, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, genetic and environmental factors, in partnership with service users and others through interaction, observation and measurement.

Mental health nurses must be able to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of evidence-based individual and group psychological and psychosocial interventions, to carry out systematic needs assessments, develop case formulations and negotiate goals

All nurses must ascertain and respond to the physical, social and psychological needs of people, groups and communities. They must then plan, deliver and evaluate safe, competent, person-centred care in partnership with them, paying special attention to changing health needs during different life stages, including progressive illness and death, loss and bereavement.

Mental health nurses must be able to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of evidence-based psychological and psychosocial individual and group interventions to develop and implement care plans and evaluate outcomes, in partnership with service users and others.

​All nurses must understand public health principles, priorities and practice in order to recognise and respond to the major causes and social determinants of health, illness and health inequalities. They must use a range of information and data to assess the needs of people, groups, communities and populations, and work to improve health, wellbeing and experiences of healthcare; secure equal access to health screening, health promotion and healthcare; and promote social inclusion.

Mental health nurses must work to promote mental health, help prevent mental health problems in at-risk groups, and enhance the health and wellbeing of people with mental health problems.

​All nurses must practise safely by being aware of the correct use, limitations and hazards of common interventions, including nursing activities, treatments, and the use of medical devices and equipment. The nurse must be able to evaluate their use, report any concerns promptly through appropriate channels and modify care where necessary to maintain safety. They must contribute to the collection of local and national data and formulation of policy on risks, hazards and adverse outcomes.

Mental health nurses must help people experiencing mental health problems to make informed choices about pharmacological and physical treatments, by providing education and information on the benefits and unwanted effects, choices and alternatives. They must support people to identify actions that promote health and help to balance benefits and unwanted effects.

All nurses must be able to recognise and interpret signs of normal and deteriorating mental and physical health and respond promptly to maintain or improve the health and comfort of the service user, acting to keep them and others safe.

Mental health nurses must provide support and therapeutic interventions for people experiencing critical and acute mental health problems. They must recognise the health and social factors that can contribute to crisis and relapse and use skills in early intervention, crisis resolution and relapse management in a way that ensures safety and security and promotes recovery.

Mental health nurses must work positively and proactively with people who are at risk of suicide or self-harm, and use evidence-based models of suicide prevention, intervention and harm reduction to minimise risk.

All nurses must provide educational support, facilitation skills and therapeutic nursing interventions to optimise health and wellbeing. They must promote self-care and management whenever possible, helping people to make choices about their healthcare needs, involving families and carers where appropriate, to maximise their ability to care for themselves.

Mental health nurses must practise in a way that promotes the self-determination and expertise of people with mental health problems, using a range of approaches and tools that aid wellness and recovery and enable self-care and self-management.

All nurses must be able to recognise when a person is at risk and in need of extra support and protection and take reasonable steps to protect them from abuse.

Mental health nurses must use recovery-focused approaches to care in situations that are potentially challenging, such as times of acute distress; when compulsory measures are used; and in forensic mental health settings. They must seek to maximise service user involvement and therapeutic engagement, using interventions that balance the need for safety with positive risk-taking.

​All nurses must evaluate their care to improve clinical decision-making, quality and outcomes, using a range of methods, amending the plan of care, where necessary, and communicating changes to others.

All nurses must act as change agents and provide leadership through quality improvement and service development to enhance people’s wellbeing and experiences of healthcare.

​All nurses must systematically evaluate care and ensure that they and others use the findings to help improve people’s experience and care outcomes and to shape future services.

All nurses must be able to identify priorities and manage time and resources effectively to ensure the quality of care is maintained or enhanced.

All nurses must be self-aware and recognise how their own values, principles and assumptions may affect their practice. They must maintain their own personal and professional development, learning from experience, through supervision, feedback, reflection and evaluation.

​Mental health nurses must actively promote and participate in clinical supervision and reflection, within a values-based mental health framework, to explore how their values, beliefs and emotions affect their leadership, management and practice.

​All nurses must facilitate nursing students and others to develop their competence, using a range of professional and personal development skills.

Mental health nurses must help raise awareness of mental health, and provide advice and support in best practice in mental health care and treatment to members of the multiprofessional team and others working in health, social care and other services and settings.

All nurses must work independently as well as in teams. They must be able to take the lead in coordinating, delegating and supervising care safely, managing risk and remaining accountable for the care given.

Mental health nurses must contribute to the management of mental health care environments by giving priority to actions that enhance people's safety, psychological security and therapeutic outcomes, and by ensuring effective communication, positive risk management and continuity of care across service boundaries.

​All nurses must work effectively across professional and agency boundaries, actively involving and respecting others’ contributions to integrated person-centred care. They must know when and how to communicate with and refer to other professionals and agencies in order to respect the choices of service users and others, promoting shared decision making, to deliver positive outcomes and to coordinate smooth, effective transition within and between services and agencies.