Standards of proficiency for registered nurses 2www.nmc.org.uk
Future nurse: Standards of
prociency for registered nurses
Introduction
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has a duty to review the standards of proficiency it sets
for the professions it registers on a regular basis to ensure that standards remain
contemporary and fit for purpose in order to protect the public. In reviewing the standards,
we have taken into account the changes that are taking place in society and health care, and
the implications these have for registered nurses of the future in terms of their role,
knowledge and skill requirements.
The proficiencies in this document therefore specify the knowledge and skills that registered
nurses must demonstrate when caring for people of all ages and across all care settings. They
reflect what the public can expect nurses to know and be able to do in order to deliver safe,
compassionate and eective nursing care. They also provide a benchmark for nurses from
the European Economic Area (EEA), European Union (EU) and overseas wishing to join the UK
register, as well as for those who plan to return to practice aer a period of absence.
The role of the nurse in the 21st century
Registered nurses play a vital role in providing, leading and coordinating care that is
compassionate, evidence-based, and person-centred. They are accountable for their own
actions and must be able to work autonomously, or as an equal partner with a range of other
professionals, and in interdisciplinary teams. In order to respond to the impact and demands of
professional nursing practice, they must be emotionally intelligent and resilient individuals,
who are able to manage their own personal health and wellbeing, and know when and how to
access support.
Registered nurses make an important contribution to the promotion of health, health
protection and the prevention of ill health. They do this by empowering people, communities and
populations to exercise choice, take control of their own health decisions and behaviours, and by
supporting people to manage their own care where possible.
Registered nurses provide leadership in the delivery of care for people of all ages and from
dierent backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. They provide nursing care for people who have
complex mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural care needs, those living with dementia,
the elderly, and for people at the end of their life. They must be able to care for people in
their own home, in the community or hospital or in any health care settings where their
needs are supported and managed. They work in the context of continual change, challenging
environments, dierent models of care delivery, shiing demographics, innovation, and rapidly
evolving technologies. Increasing integration of health and social care services will require
registered nurses to negotiate boundaries and play a proactive role in interdisciplinary teams.
The confidence and ability to think critically, apply knowledge and skills, and provide expert,
evidence-based, direct nursing care therefore lies at the centre of all registered
nursing practice.