The Role of Competencies in Patient Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code

Introduction

The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code (NMC) emphasizes the importance of prioritizing people in all aspects of healthcare. This means that healthcare professionals should always put the needs and safety of their patients above all other concerns. One way to prioritize people in healthcare is by ensuring that they are fully informed and involved in their care. Healthcare providers must communicate clearly and effectively with their patients, giving them all of the information they require to make educated treatment decisions.

Another way to prioritize people is by treating them with dignity and respect. Healthcare professionals should always be mindful of their patients’ feelings and preferences and do everything they can to make them feel comfortable and valued. We can guarantee that patients receive the most excellent quality treatment and are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve by emphasizing people in healthcare.

The Importance of Midwives

The role of the registered midwife is critical in ensuring the safe delivery of babies and the well-being of mothers. The midwife must be able to work independently or as part of a team in various settings, including hospitals, birth centers, or the community. They must be able to provide evidence-based care which is professional, ethical, and legal. The midwife must communicate effectively with clients, their families, and other healthcare professionals (Butts & Rich, 2019). They should be compassionate, courteous, and unbiased of clients and their decisions (MBRRACE, no date). The midwife must also be able to recognize and respond to any complications that may arise during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum.

Midwives should confidently and adaptively implement local and national frameworks and legislation across various settings. They must be aware of the different policies and procedures within their organization and follow them accordingly. They must also be familiar with their profession’s laws and regulations (Butts & Rich, 2019). Midwives must guarantee that they are delivering care within their area of expertise and operating within their competency limitations (NICE, no date). They should also be able to recognize and respond to any issues or concerns that may arise about their practice.

As a registered midwife, I should identify personal responsibility and professional behaviors per The NMC Code. This includes being honest, trustworthy, and always acting with integrity. Midwives must also ensure that they maintain confidentiality and respect the privacy of their clients. They must also be able to recognize and respond to any ethical dilemmas that may arise (Butts & Rich, 2019). The midwife must be able to work collaboratively with clients and other healthcare professionals, ensuring that the client’s needs are the main focus. They must also be able to reflect on their practice and continuously develop their knowledge and skills to ensure they provide the best possible care for their clients.

Nursing Case Summary

Samantha was a nurse working in a busy hospital (Butts & Rich, 2019). One day, she was assigned to care for a patient, a middle-aged man, who had recently undergone surgery and was still recovering. Samantha was responsible for ensuring that the patient was comfortable and that his vital signs were stable. However, as the day went on, Samantha noticed that the patient’s blood pressure had started dropping. She immediately notified the doctor in charge of the patient, who ordered additional tests to be performed. The tests revealed that the patient had an internal bleed and required emergency surgery (Butts and Rich, 2019).

The patient received the care he needed promptly, thanks to Samantha’s quick thinking and attention to detail. Samantha’s capacity to identify indicators of a medical emergency and take action quickly saved the patient’s life. This incident highlights the importance of nursing practice and nurses’ critical role in patient care.

Nurses like Samantha are trained to be vigilant and proactive in identifying potential medical emergencies and taking the necessary steps to ensure their patients receive the care they need (Butts & Rich, 2019). In addition to their medical training, nurses provide emotional support, patient education, and care coordination to ensure patients have the best possible outcomes (Butts & Rich, 2019). Additionally, the nursing profession is always developing in response to changing patient and healthcare system demands (NICE, no date).

In recent years, nurses have been at the forefront of improving patient safety, reducing healthcare costs, and promoting health equity (Butts & Rich, 2019). As demand for healthcare services grows, nurses will continue to play a critical role in delivering comprehensive, accessible care to individuals of all ages and diverse backgrounds. In conclusion, Samantha’s quick thinking and expertise highlight the importance of the nursing profession and the critical role that nurses play in ensuring that patients receive the care they need. Nurses like Samantha make a difference in the lives of many people and communities worldwide by providing comprehensive care and advocating for their patients.

Nursing Case Analysis

In this nursing case, Samantha demonstrated her ability to recognize the signs of a medical emergency and take appropriate action to guarantee that her patient promptly obtained the necessary care. Her quick thinking and attention to detail ultimately saved the patient’s life. This scenario underscores the vital role of nurses in patient care and reinforces the significance of nursing practice.

From a professional perspective, Samantha’s actions demonstrate several key nursing competencies. First and foremost, she was able to assess the patient’s condition and recognize that there was a problem. This ability to recognize and respond to changes in a patient’s condition is essential for nurses, who are often the first line of defense in identifying potential medical emergencies.

In this nursing case, Samantha’s actions exemplify the importance of nurses in patient care. Her quick thinking, attention to detail, and nursing competencies, including evaluation, clear communication, and collaboration were critical in saving the patient’s life. Her actions highlight nurses’ vital role in identifying and responding to potential medical emergencies (Butts & Rich, 2019). Moreover, Samantha’s actions demonstrate how the nursing profession is an essential component of providing high-quality and accessible care to patients. Nurses can make a significant difference in countless individuals and communities worldwide by utilizing their competencies and knowledge.

It is worth noting that nursing competencies go beyond just medical knowledge; they involve a whole range of technical and soft skills. For example, a nurse must also have excellent interpersonal skills to build trust with patients and their families (Butts & Rich, 2019). Furthermore, nurses must be able to work effectively within a team to ensure patients receive coordinated care throughout their treatment. Overall, Samantha’s actions underscore nurses’ critical role in patient care and how the profession is integral in providing quality healthcare services.

Secondly, Samantha demonstrated practical communication skills by instantly notifying the doctor in charge. This communication allowed the doctor to quickly order additional tests and take the necessary steps to address the patient’s condition. Effective communication is essential for nurses, who must communicate clearly and effectively with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals.

Finally, Samantha’s ability to work collaboratively with doctors and other healthcare professionals highlights the importance of teamwork in nursing practice. Nurses must be able to work closely with other members of the healthcare team to ensure that patients receive the best possible care (Butts & Rich, 2019). By working together, healthcare professionals can provide comprehensive and compassionate care to needy patients (Butts & Rich, 2019). Overall, Samantha’s actions in this nursing case highlight nurses’ critical role in patient care and emphasize the importance of nursing competencies such as assessment, effective communication, and teamwork.

Conclusion

The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code stresses the importance of placing people at the forefront of healthcare, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality care possible and are treated with respect and dignity. Registered midwives play a critical role in ensuring babies’ safe delivery and mothers’ well-being. They must provide evidence-based care, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with clients, their families, and other healthcare professionals. By applying the NMC Code, midwives can apply local and national frameworks and legislation confidently and flexibly to different contexts, recognizing their personal responsibility and professional behaviors.

Samantha’s actions in this nursing case demonstrate critical competencies such as examination, communication, and teamwork, which are essential for nurses to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to patients in need. Nursing is critical in delivering high-quality, accessible care to patients of all ages and backgrounds, making an impact in the lives of countless individuals and communities throughout the world.

Reference List

Butts, J.B. and Rich, K.L. (2019) Nursing ethics: across the curriculum and into practice. 5th (ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

MBRRACE (no date) MBRRACE-UK: Mothers and babies: Reducing risk through audits and confidential inquiries across the UK. Web.

NICE (no date) Pregnancy and complex social factors: A model for service provision for pregnant women with complex social factors. Web.

A healthcare professional communicating with a patient (2021) Medical Economics. Web.

A nurse or midwife caring for a patient (no date) Shenandoah Women’s Healthcare. Web.

A pregnant woman receiving prenatal care (no date) San Bernardino County. Web.

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NursingBird. (2025, March 11). The Role of Competencies in Patient Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code. https://nursingbird.com/the-role-of-competencies-in-patient-care-and-the-nursing-and-midwifery-council-code/

Work Cited

"The Role of Competencies in Patient Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code." NursingBird, 11 Mar. 2025, nursingbird.com/the-role-of-competencies-in-patient-care-and-the-nursing-and-midwifery-council-code/.

References

NursingBird. (2025) 'The Role of Competencies in Patient Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code'. 11 March.

References

NursingBird. 2025. "The Role of Competencies in Patient Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code." March 11, 2025. https://nursingbird.com/the-role-of-competencies-in-patient-care-and-the-nursing-and-midwifery-council-code/.

1. NursingBird. "The Role of Competencies in Patient Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code." March 11, 2025. https://nursingbird.com/the-role-of-competencies-in-patient-care-and-the-nursing-and-midwifery-council-code/.


Bibliography


NursingBird. "The Role of Competencies in Patient Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code." March 11, 2025. https://nursingbird.com/the-role-of-competencies-in-patient-care-and-the-nursing-and-midwifery-council-code/.