Understanding The Nursing Scope of Practice

Definition: the variety of roles, functions, responsibilities and activities which a registered nurse is educated, competent and has authority to perform. The scope of practice framework inspires nurses to critically examine their scope of practice and expand where appropriate. The framework fulfils several functions in that it: Acts as a background to underpin decision making related to nurses everyday practice. Assist nurses to identify professional developmental needs.

Provides a foundation for the expansion of nursing roles. Encourage reflective practice to improve learning and the provision of safe, quality patient care. Nursing practice is underpinned by values that guide the way in which nursing care is provided. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland considers that the following values should support nursing practice:

1. 1. In making decisions about their personal scope of practice, nurses should keep to the fore the rights, needs and overall benefit to the patient and the importance of promoting and maintaining the highest standards of quality in the health services.
2. 2. Nurses treat all patients as equals without discriminating on the grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability (physical, mental or intellectual), or membership of the Traveller community.
3. 3. Fundamental to nursing practice is the therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the patient that is based on open communication, trust, understanding, compassion and kindness, and serves to empower the patient to make life choices.
4. 4. Nursing practice involves advocacy for the rights of thei individual patient and for their family. It also involves advocacy on behalf of nursing practice in organisational and management structures within nursing.
5. 5. Nurses recognise their role in delegating care appropriately and providing supervision to junior colleagues and other healthcare workers, where required.
6. 6. Nursing care combines art and science. Nursing care is holistic in nature, grounded in an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical experiences of patients, and is based upon the best available research and experiential evidence.
7. 7. Nursing practice must always be based on the principles of professional conduct stated in the latest edition of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (2014).