Professional Accountability and Delegation Flashcards
7 cards from real NMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Accountability and Delegation flashcards as text
A nurse is asked by a patient to act as a witness to a legal document such as a will. What should the nurse consider first?
Answer: Consider employer policy and the potential conflict of interest, then seek advice if unsure
Nurses must be aware of employer policy and avoid conflicts of interest; seeking advice before witnessing legal documents is the professionally accountable course of action.
What is the primary purpose of the NMC's 'duty of candour' requirement?
Answer: To require nurses to be open and honest when something has gone wrong that has harmed a patient
The duty of candour obligates nurses to be open and honest with patients and their families when care has caused harm, including a sincere apology.
A nurse working in a community setting is the only clinician available and receives a delegation from a GP to perform a procedure the nurse has never done before. What is the correct action?
Answer: Decline the delegation, explain the lack of competence, and request appropriate support
The nurse must decline any delegation that exceeds their competence, regardless of seniority of the person delegating, and ensure the patient's safety through appropriate escalation.
Which of the following best describes an appropriate supervisory arrangement when a registered nurse oversees an HCA performing a delegated task?
Answer: Being immediately available to intervene if needed and monitoring the task's progress
Effective supervision requires the nurse to be immediately available and actively monitoring, not merely present in the building or reviewing after the fact.
A nurse is asked to carry out a task that she believes is unethical but not illegal. What does the NMC Code advise?
Answer: Refuse the task, raise the ethical concern through appropriate channels, and document the decision
The NMC Code requires nurses to uphold ethical standards and raise concerns through proper governance channels when asked to act in ways that conflict with professional values.
Which of the following best explains why 'accountability' and 'responsibility' are treated as distinct concepts in NMC standards?
Answer: Responsibility relates to assigned tasks while accountability relates to being answerable for the outcome of those tasks
Responsibility is about the tasks assigned to or accepted by a nurse, while accountability is about being answerable — legally and professionally — for how those tasks are carried out.
A nurse notices that a colleague has been falsifying records to cover up a medication error. Under the NMC Code, what must the nurse do?
Answer: Report the concern immediately through the appropriate governance or regulatory channel
Falsifying records is a serious breach of professional standards; the NMC Code requires nurses to report such concerns without delay to protect patients and uphold public trust.