It is very important to understand that while serving the essential role of guiding the novice, standards of practice also guide the behavior of more experienced professionals. Standards of practice are the conduits of the institution's culture of care, and therefore, the very essence of that care. By serving as a teaching tool, they establish a level of expectation about care-delivery within an organization. Universal adherence to standards of practice also provides an added measure of safety by extending the knowledge of clinical expertise when real experts may not be available. With the guidance of practice standards, clinicians can step into situations and perform effectively even when more experienced providers are not present.
Healthcare professionals face many complex situations every day.
Understanding the unique clinical needs of each situation and the latitude in applying standards is imperative to providing effective, high-quality care. Strictly adhering to standards does not, in and of itself, constitute best care. It is up to the individual professional to recognize and interpret situations, and to know what standards of practice apply and in what ways they apply. The integration of clinical knowledge and standards of practice reflects a more proficient, or expert, professional. As Patient Care Services develops its professional practice model, there will be opportunities to update our standards of practice to better reflect the decision-making process and clinical knowledge of our expert professionals.