NMC - Nursing Midwifery Council Professional Accountability and Delegation Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the principle of professional accountability as defined by the NMC Code?

Accepted Answer

A nurse is answerable for their own actions and omissions, and cannot blame others for their professional judgements.

Answer

Accountability can be delegated to a more senior colleague if a nurse feels a task is beyond their personal scope.

Answer

Accountability rests solely with the employer, who is responsible for any errors made by nursing staff.

Answer

Accountability primarily means completing incident forms correctly after an adverse event has occurred.

Question 2

A registered nurse on a busy surgical ward needs to delegate a task to a competent and experienced Healthcare Assistant (HCA). Which of the following tasks is most appropriate to delegate?

Accepted Answer

Assisting a stable, post-operative patient with their personal hygiene.

Answer

Administering a patient's prescribed intravenous antibiotics.

Answer

Developing the initial plan of care for a newly admitted patient.

Answer

Evaluating the effectiveness of a patient's prescribed pain relief.

Question 3

A newly qualified nurse administers a medication and later realises they gave the wrong dose. The patient is stable and shows no adverse effects. According to the principle of professional accountability and the duty of candour, what is the nurse's immediate priority?

Accepted Answer

Immediately reporting the error to the nurse in charge and completing an incident form.

Answer

Waiting to see if the patient develops any symptoms before reporting the error.

Answer

Documenting the correct dose in the patient's notes to avoid raising an alarm.

Answer

Asking a senior colleague to take over the patient's care immediately.

Question 4

A registered nurse (RN) is delegating the task of measuring and recording a patient's fluid balance to a Nursing Associate (NA). Which statement best describes the RN's accountability in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The RN remains accountable for the decision to delegate and for the overall management and evaluation of the patient's care.

Answer

The RN must directly observe the NA performing the entire task to ensure accuracy.

Answer

Once delegated, the NA assumes full accountability for the task, absolving the RN of all responsibility.

Answer

The RN is only accountable if the NA makes an error in recording the measurements.

Question 5

A healthcare assistant (HCA) is asked by a registered nurse to change a complex surgical dressing, a task for which they have not been trained. The HCA feels it is outside their level of competence. What is the HCA's most accountable action?

Accepted Answer

Politely decline the task and clearly explain that they are not trained or competent to perform it.

Answer

Attempt the dressing change carefully using the patient's notes as a guide to be helpful.

Answer

Ask another, more experienced HCA to perform the task instead.

Answer

Perform the task but immediately report the nurse for inappropriate delegation afterwards.

Question 6

When a registered nurse delegates a task, they must ensure 'right direction and communication'. Which of the following best exemplifies this principle?

Accepted Answer

Providing clear, concise instructions, including the specific task, expected outcome, and when to report back.

Answer

Telling the healthcare assistant to 'sort out' the patient in bed 3.

Answer

Assuming the student nurse has read the patient's care plan and knows what to do.

Answer

Writing a brief note in the handover sheet for the next shift to follow up on the task.