Understanding and meeting your legal responsibilities as a nurse

Nurses, midwives and students are legally responsible for their actions. This article discusses the legal standard of care in relation to nursing and midwifery practice and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code. It examines how the courts determine if nurses have met their duty of care and how nurses must ensure they maintain competence in order to provide safe care. It examines why organisational knowing is important for all nurses, regardless of their level in the organisation. Workplace incivility is discussed and its adverse effects on nurses, patient care and the organisation. The article concludes that if nurses are uncertain why they are doing something, they must investigate further. The law expects nurses to be able to justify why they acted as they did, or failed to act.