Developed by the Urgent and Emergency Care Forum, this latest edition reflects both the complexity of modern emergency care and the need for clear, accessible tools to support workforce development. Emergency nursing demands rapid decision-making, often in situations of uncertainty, where clinical judgement, adaptability and leadership are essential. This framework recognises that reality and provides a structured way to support nurses to develop and thrive within it.

Importantly, this framework is not intended as a checklist, but as a professional map; it articulates what safe, effective and progressive practice looks like. It spans the full breadth of emergency care, including the management of acutely ill and injured patients, resuscitation, minor illness and injury, mental health, paediatrics, care of older people and major incident response. It reflects the breadth and depth of the specialty, and the advanced clinical reasoning, situational awareness and teamwork required to deliver high-quality care.

Competency frameworks remain a vital component of professional practice. They provide clarity and consistency for individuals, teams and organisations—supporting career development, strengthening clinical capability, and ultimately ensuring safe and effective patient care. Just as importantly, they create a shared language for supervision, feedback and progression, helping to embed a culture of continual learning and improvement.

This updated publication introduces two significant changes. First, the previous Level 1 and Level 2 documents have been brought together into a single, integrated framework, enabling competencies to be viewed and completed side by side. This reflects the reality that professional development is continuous, supporting both learners and supervisors to more easily track progression.

Second, the framework has been refined and streamlined. Recognising that all registered nurses enter the workforce with established core competencies, this document focuses specifically on those skills, knowledge and behaviours that are unique to emergency care practice. By removing duplication and concentrating on what matters most, the result is a clearer, more practical and user-friendly resource.

The framework also places a strong emphasis on structured support, supervision and reflective practice, recognising these as essential safeguards for both staff and patients. In parallel, it acknowledges the pressures of the emergency care environment and the importance of wellbeing, psychological safety and support throughout a nurse’s career.

We encourage all nurses, educators and leaders working across urgent and emergency care to engage with the Competency Framework and consider how it can support individual development, team capability and service improvement. Together, we can continue to strengthen the emergency nursing workforce and deliver safe, high-quality care for all those who need it.
Good luck on your journey,

The Urgent and Emergency Care Forum

Read the Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Emergency Care: Level 1 and 2