“Standards of Care” and “Standards of Practice”

The terms ‘standards of care’ and ‘standards of practice’ are synonymous and used interchangeably. The term ‘standard of care’ refers to the provision of care services in a manner that is consistent with care whereas the term ‘standard of practice’ in the field of nursing refers to the professional activities related to the provision of care under state law by each state’s nurse practice act. This reflective assessment explores what standard of care and standard of practice are, why are these standards necessary in the healthcare sector, and what are the potential compliance issues associated with both standards.

Standard of Care

‘Standard of care’ sets criteria about what quality of care is, how it can be delivered fairly, and whether quality and safety are considered while delivering the care service in a certain situation. Divergence from standards of care in the realm of healthcare facilities may result in professional negligence which may lead to poor management, fatalities within hospital settings, bad organizational reputation, and poor care service delivery (Moffett & Moore, 2011). These standards of care are guidelines that a prudent professional nurse or care provider would follow under the care circumstances. This standard can be determined by court opinions, accreditation standards, statutes, APA policies, and facility policies and procedures.

Standard of Practice

In the field of nursing, ‘standard of practice’ refers to what, where, who, when, why, and how the highest level of care is provided to unhealthy individuals. In simpler words, this standard means the limits, standards, and conditions for the practice of nursing which provides protection for both the public and the profession. These standards in the care practice promote the expectations about what the nursing profession expects from nurses in clinical settings and direct professional practices for the self-assessment of nurses. This standard can be determined by standard operating procedures, clinical policy statements, and clinical protocols which outline the expectations and requirements of professional nursing practice (Harper & Maloney, 2016).

Compliance Issues with Standard of Care and Standard of Practice

Issues in compliance arise from either standard in the field of healthcare. If a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of practice established by each state’s nurse practice law, the licensing board may subject the responsible one to disciplinary action. Similarly, if healthcare professional fails to meet the standard of care in their settings, they may be held liable for clinical malpractice. The breach or issue in the standard of care affects the care compliance including medical malpractice claim that leads to unavoidable disease complications, increasing care costs, and frequent hospital admissions leading to an increase in other patient issues. Compliance issues in standard of practice pose serious threats to the healthcare organizations’ financial, and reputational standings resulting from violations of codes of laws, standards of practice in facilities, and violations of organizational regulations. These compliance issues can be addressed by determining the end goals of the organization, holding caregivers accountable, knowing the care industry’s regulatory environment, and creating effective organizational policies and procedures.

Conclusion

Standards whether they are related to care provision or care practice vary depending on the profession and jurisdiction of the healthcare providers, so it is crucial for professionals to stay updated with the new practices as well as the latest guidelines and standards in their respective professions in the field of healthcare. Clinicians need to understand the concepts and practices of both standards of care and standards of practice to determine whether professional obligations related to the provision of care to patients have been met in clinics or hospitals throughout the states. Thus, establishing standards in healthcare enables nurses and other healthcare providers to ensure the quality of the care provision and the provider service to the consumers of the care by gaining control of the practice.

References

Harper, M. G., & Maloney, P. (2016). Nursing professional development: Standards of practice. Chicago, IL: Association of Nursing Professional Development.

Moffett, P., & Moore, G. (2011). The standard of care: Legal history and definitions: The bad and good news. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 12(1), 109.