Nursing & Midwifery Council Code

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Defining the NMC Code
The Value of the Code
Concluding Remarks
Reference List

Introduction

Nursing requires a high level of professionalism and exceptional attention to patients’ needs. The development of nursing has led to the creation of specific rules and standards that regulate the modern healthcare system. Workers in the field of nursing have a significant impact on public health, whether they work in caring, educating or managing positions. For purposes of setting professional standards for nurses and protecting public interests, The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) code was created.

The professions regulated by the code have various skills, knowledge and responsibility; however, they all practice ethics outlined in the NMC code and are accountable for their work based on the key provisions of the code (Snelling 2016). Only nurses, midwives and nursing associates who follow the code and meet its requirements are allowed to work in the UK. This paper will critically analyse the Nursing & Midwifery Council code of professional conduct and how it acts to promote professional values and guide professional nursing practice and care for patients.

Defining the NMC Code

Before exploring the NMC code and its impact on the quality of care provided to patients, it is imperative first to define it. The Nursing & Midwifery Council is regulatory for midwifery and nursing professionals in the United Kingdom (NMC 2019). It keeps a register of all the nurses, midwives and nursing associates and sets standards for their education, training, performance and conduct. NMC also deals with cases when these standards are neglected or not met. The Nursing & Midwifery Council developed the code to present a framework of professional standards that nurses, midwives and nursing associates must follow in order to be registered to practice in the UK (NMC 2018). The code emphasizes four main themes: prioritise people, practice effectively, preserve safety and promote professionalism and trust.

The Value of the Code

The provision of “prioritising people” explains that nurses and midwives need to retain people’s dignity and treat them as individuals, be attentive to people’s preferences and concerns, respond to their physical, psychological and social needs, respect their rights to privacy and confidentiality, and always act in the best interest of people (Callwood 2015). The second provision, “practice effectively,” requires practitioners to act in accordance with the best available evidence, work cooperatively, communicate clearly, maintain accurate records relevant to one’s practice, share their experience, knowledge and skills where appropriate and improve one’s professional practice according to the received feedback.

The third part of the conduct, “preserve safety”, states that the nurse or midwife must recognize and work within the limits of their competence, practice the “duty of candour” (NMC 2018). It also obligates a nurse or a midwife to immediately raise concern whenever the public or patients’ safety is at risk and take specific actions to deal with matters when it is appropriate. The fourth part is based on promoting professionalism and trust by maintaining the reputation of one’s profession and position, presenting personal commitment to the code, and remaining a figure of leadership and integrity (NMC 2018).

The code allows for the professional growth of healthcare practitioners based on the patients’ needs and feedbacks. The fifth component, “promote professionalism and trust”, is developed to ensure that nurses uphold a high standard of reputation and professionalism at all times. The professionals are expected to exhibit a personal commitment to the standards of behaviour and practice that have been outlined by the code. This means that each nurse should act as a role model for integrity when providing care to patients regardless of their cultural background, race, gender, ethnicity, education, or socioeconomic status (Royal College of Nursing 2017).

Thus, the general tone of the NMC code is ensuring that professionals are operating in the sphere of nursing and midwifery show as much respect and compassion to the needs of patients to foster a positive environment in which the care requirements are met.

The NMC code is essential for promoting professional values and guide professional nursing practice as applied to the UK health care context (Royal College of Nursing 2019). As mentioned by Fitzpatrick (2018), the code underlines the importance of communication as a professional value that encourages upholding and protecting patient care. As nurses spend a lot of time with their patients, they are expected to develop trusting relationships with them and facilitated rapport (The Queen’s Nursing Institute 2017). Such relationships are imperative because they offer practitioners an opportunity to evaluate the health of their clients in terms of both emotional and physical well-being.

Throughout the NMC code of conduct, it is stated that nurses are expected to communicate effectively not only to benefit patients but also to work in teams (Peate 2016). Because of this, every standard, prioritising people, practice effectively, preserve safety, the duty of candour and promote professionalism and trust, imply a certain degree of communication. The professional values of nurses are reinforced and supported with the help of communication, which helps to facilitate honesty, transparency, and the fostering of environments that encourage high-quality care.

As related to professional values, the NMC code influences the facilitation of positive attitudes within the process of care. Newly-qualified nurses that only begin their work should reflect on their own values and standards and their influence on practice (NHS 2019). Thus, it is expected that nurses who have a genuine desire to help people will be more likely to possess such integral qualities as respect, honesty, and responsibility.

Concluding Remarks

In conclusion, it should be mentioned that the NMC code makes a connection between the personal values of nursing practitioners and their professional duties as identified in the code. Professionals should be compassionate and respectful of patients for whom they care in order to improve their health as well as life in general. The best way to provide care for patients is to facilitate care, commitment, compassion, competence, and communication. The combination of these principles encourages professionals to be dedicated to their work and use evidence-based care in conjunction with principles of respect and positive attitudes to the process.

Reference List

Callwood, A 2015, Developing and evaluating the multiple mini interview in student midwife selection. Web.

Fitzpatrick, L 2018, ‘The importance of communication and professional values relating to nursing practice,’ Links to Health and Social Care, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 27-40.

NHS 2019, General practice nursing induction template. Web.

NMC 2015, The code. Web.

NMC 2019, Midwifery regulation. Web.

Peate, I 2016, Medical-surgical nursing at a glance, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK.

Royal College of Nursing 2017, RCN guidance for mentors of nursing and midwifery students. Web.

Royal College of Nursing 2019, Principles of nursing practice. Web.

Snelling, P 2016, ‘The metaethics of nursing codes of ethics and conduct’, Nursing Philosophy, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 229-249.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute 2017, Transition to distinct nursing service. Web.

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Nursing & Midwifery Council Code

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