Planning of an appropriate mode of adaptation is enhanced by the nurse's physiological, psychosocial and legal ethical knowledge base. With this broad knowledge base the nurse has the capacity to organise interactions systematically and to demonstrate his or her competence. There are four exemplary characteristics of a practising nurse. Nurses are guided by a mental image which identifies the focus for the independent practice of nursing. Nurses systematically implement, communicate, validate records and update all steps of the nursing process in conjunction with the client or patient.
Nurses establish the helping relationship as the basis for client nurse interaction.
Nurses fulfil professional responsibilities in their independent, interdependent and dependent functions. This model of nursing permeates the study materials which the students in this programme use. The students come from a variety of different backgrounds, and have been out of practice for differing numbers of years. They are a very heterogeneous group. It is therefore necessary to make pretesting available to each student so that the existing level of competency can be recognised and rewarded.