Foundations of Evidence Based practice (B71P02)

What is accountability?
Accountability means that individuals are

responsible for their actions and maybe asked

to justify them

Responsibility means being answerable for

ones own actions

The NMC (2008) state that

Nurses and midwives hold a position of
responsibility and other people rely on them.
They are professionally accountable to the
NMC, as well as having a contractual
accountability to their employer and are
accountable to the law for their actions.
(NMC (2008) Accountability Advise Sheet.

London, NMC.)

Why is it important in
EBP

NMC (2008) The Code: Standards of

conduct, performance and ethics for nurses
and midwives
As a professional, you are personally accountable
for actions and omissions in your practice and
must always be able to justify your decisions.
You must always act lawfully, whether those laws
relate to your professional practice or personal
life.
Failure to comply with this Code may bring your
fitness to practise into question and endanger
your registration.

NMC (2008) The Code:

contd.
You must
Provide a high standard of practice and

care at all times

Use the best available evidence

You must deliver care based on the best available

evidence or best practice.

You must ensure any advice you give is evidence
based if you are suggesting healthcare products or
services
You must ensure that the use of complementary or
alternative therapies is safe and in the best interests
of those in your care

Keep your skills and knowledge up to

date

Implications for you

As a student
You are not professionally accountable this
lies with your supervising RN - you are
learning the skills associated with this ready
for registration
You are personally accountable for your
actions or omissions and may be held to
account for these by the university or by the
law
Once qualified you become professionally
accountable