How the Principles are being used
The Principles of Nursing Practice have been developed to use as a framework for steering quality improvement initiatives at a local level. The Government’s response to the recommendations made in Frontline care has described the Principles as expressing the high quality standards of care expected of the nursing profession and goes on to say:
"Employers and educators need to use the Principles of Nursing Practice as a pledge so that their nurses and students understand what is expected of them".
(Department of Health (2011) The Government's response to the recommendations made in front line care: the report of the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England, p.6).
Sharing examples
We are sharing examples of how people are making use of the Principles on these pages. The examples are presented under four broad themes: patient focus; staff focus; quality improvement focus; and education - read the examples.
Do you have an example of making use of the Principles? The RCN would like to hear about your initiatives. To share your example, or for more information, please contact Chris Watts (chris.watts@rcn.org.uk), RCN Project Manager in the Quality, Standards and Innovation Unit.
Geraldine Cunningham, Head of the RCN Learning and Development Institute, talks about the Principles, how they are being used and current developments and activities in this podcast (MP3 3.22MB).
To read about different ways in which the Principles are being used see examples.