Practice Standards for Nursing Practice
RN practice is grounded on standards and ethical values and supported by a system of professional regulation. The Standards for Nursing Practice is reflective of the following five essential elements of professional practice:
- Self –Regulation and Accountability;
- Specialized Body of Knowledge;
- Competent Application of Knowledge;
- Professional Interactions and Advocacy; and
- Professional Leadership.
Standards – Definition, Purpose, and Context
A standard is an authoritative statement that sets out the legal and professional basis for nursing practice (CNO, 2002; CRNNS, 2004). The primary purpose of standards is to identify for nurses, the public, government, and other stakeholders the desired and achievable level of performance expected of nurses in their practice, against which actual performance can be measured.
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Pracitioners adhere to the Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice in addition to the Standards for Nursing Practice.