The American Nurses Association has implemented Standards of Professional Performance (2010) that describe a competent level of behavior in the professional role. Registered nurses are accountable for their professional actions to themselves, their patients, their peers, and ultimately to society.
Standards of Practice
The Standards of Practice describe a competent level of nursing care as demonstrated by the critical thinking model known as the nursing process. The nursing process includes the components of assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Accordingly, the nursing process encompasses significant actions taken by registered nurses and forms the foundation of the nurse’s decision-making.
Standard 1 - Assessment
The registered nurse collects pertinent data and information relative to the healthcare consumer’s health or the situation.
Standard 2 - Diagnosis
The registered nurse analyzes the assessment data to determine actual or potential diagnoses, problems, and issues.
Standard 3 - Outcomes Identification
The registered nurse identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the healthcare consumer or the situation.
Standard 4 - Planning:
The registered nurse develops a plan that prescribes strategies to attain expected, measurable outcomes.
Standard 5 - Implementation
The registered nurse implements the identified plan.
Standard 5A - Coordination of Care
The registered nurse coordinates care delivery.
Standard 5B - Health Teaching and Health Promotion
The registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment. Scope of Nursing Practice • Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Ed.
Standard 6 - Evaluation
The registered nurse evaluates progress toward attainment of goals and outcomes. Standards of Professional Performance The Standards of Professional Performance describe a competent level of behavior in the professional role, including activities related to ethics, culturally congruent practice, communication, collaboration, leadership, education, evidence-based practice and research, quality of practice, professional practice evaluation, resource utilization, and environmental health. All registered nurses are expected to engage in professional role activities, including leadership, appropriate to their education and position. Registered nurses are accountable for their professional actions to themselves, their healthcare consumers, their peers, and ultimately to society.
Standard 7 - Ethics
The registered nurse practices ethically.
Standard 8 - Culturally Congruent Practice
The registered nurse practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles.
Standard 9 - Communication
The registered nurse communicates effectively in all areas of practice.
Standard 10 - Collaboration
The registered nurse collaborates with healthcare consumer and other key stakeholders in the conduct of nursing practice.
Standard 11 - Leadership
The registered nurse leads within the professional practice setting and the profession.
Standard 12 - Education
The registered nurse seeks knowledge and competence that reflects current nursing practice and promotes futuristic thinking. 6 • Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Ed. • Scope of Nursing Practice.
Standard 13 - Evidence-based Practice and Research
The registered nurse integrates evidence and research findings into practice.
Standard 14 - Quality of Practice
The registered nurse contributes to quality nursing practice.
Standard 15 - Professional Practice Evaluation
The registered nurse evaluates one's own and others' nursing practice.
Standard 16 - Resource Utilization
The registered nurse utilizes appropriate resources to plan, provide, and sustain evidence-based nursing services that are safe, effective, and fiscally responsible.
Standard 17 - Environmental Health
The registered nurse practices in an environmentally safe and healthy.