Accountability as a core competency for nurse practitioners in primary care

¶ … Accountability

As the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF, 2013) has stated, one of the competencies vital to primary care nursing is that nurse practitioners should demonstrate the highest level of accountability. This paper will explain why it is imperative that NPs develop the ability to demonstrate the highest level of accountability in primary care for all stakeholders in health care.

First of all, it is most important for patients that NPs be able to provide the highest level of accountability because the patients are the ones who are directly impacted by decisions or errors that NPs commit. If a nurse has made a mistake in prescribing medicine or conducting a screening, it is necessary for that nurse to be accountable so that the error can quickly and efficiently be corrected. This helps not only the patient but also other staff members of the health care facility, who otherwise might treat the patient without knowing that there has been an error committed earlier by another nurse. By ensuring that NPs have as one of their core competencies the training to hold themselves accountable, health care providers and stakeholders in health care can reduce the risk associated with a lack of accountability, professionalism, transparency and trust with their health care.

Indeed, professionalism, transparency and trust are all qualities that are supported by the NP\'s ability to provide the highest level of accountability. It is a measure of leadership as well (Mostashari et al., 2014). This means that the NP will adhere to the current and emerging standards of primary care and continue his or her education from novice to expert when it comes to clinical practice. The NP is expected to be an authority on matters and this competency helps to ensure that such authority is not misplaced.

McWilliams, Chernew, Zaslavsky and Landon (2013) indicate that accountability is one of the most important aspects of primary care and one that is particularly important to patients who will want to know who is held responsible if something goes wrong in the care that they receive. The competency put forward by the NONPF helps NPs to realize what steps they must taken in order to reduce the risk of errors being committed and to ensure that they provide care in a thoroughly accountable manner.

Moosa and Gibbs (2013) show that when accountability is lacking among primary care providers, clinical priorities can fall out of line and cause harm to stakeholders. Their study of stakeholders in Johannesburg health care facilities indicated that responsibilities of nurse practitioners and other staff members are severely and negatively impacted by a disregard for accountability practices. Instead of showing care for the best interest of the patients, nurses and other staff are working under poor conditions, suffering from burnout and poor management guidance. The lack of accountability on various levels in turn negatively impacts patient care. Thus, as this study shows, it is crucial that NPs understand how to provide the kind of accountability that patients and professionals need and expect.