This page is currently under review.
Please see Accountability - The Nursing and Midwifery Council and Delegation - The Nursing and Midwifery Council
The principles of accountability and delegation are relevant to all members of the nursing team. Whether you're a nurse, health care assistant (HCA), assistant practitioner (AP), nursing associate (NA) or student, this page tells you what you need to know.
Accountability
Health service providers are accountable to the criminal and civil courts to make sure their activities meet legal requirements. In addition, employees are accountable to their employer to follow their contract of duty. Registered practitioners are also accountable to regulatory bodies in terms of standards of practice and patient care. Registered nurses, midwives and registered nursing associates are professionally accountable to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The law imposes a duty of care on practitioners, whether they are HCAs, APs, nursing associates, students, registered nurses, doctors or others. The duty of care applies whether they are performing straightforward activities such as bathing patients or undertaking complex surgery.