Understanding the standard of care required by nurses

It is an established principle that nurses owe their patients a duty of care (Dowie, 2017), however following this; the nurse must also meet the legal standard of care deemed necessary to maintain a safe and effective delivery of care to their patients and clients. Defining what is meant by the legal standard of care is complex, and challenging to meet in an ever-increasing pressurised work environment. This article will attempt to raise awareness amongst registered nurses of the legal standard expected, and how the nurse can overcome some of the challenges in today’s profession to meet the legal standard.