Introduction

You've commenced your journey towards becoming a registered nurse or health care professional. As such everything that you do should comply with expectations of professional behaviour. These are defined in codes of practice, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Code of Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives on which this resource is based. Now, let's be honest, reading and getting to grips with codes of professional practice can be a little dry and might not be at the top of your agenda, but consider for a minute. You're entering a profession that's held in high regard by the general public and you by extension will also be held in that regard. Your behaviour will reflect not only on you, but on your colleagues and the public's view of you. A poor impression can actually prevent people from seeking help from your profession, and whilst you might not intentionally break any aspect of professional conduct, the records from professional bodies show just how easily it can happen if you have not taken time to consider them.

This resource will give you the opportunity to think about different aspects of the NMC Code. You'll have an opportunity to reflect on some of the circumstances that influence the professional image of nursing. The web address is available in the resources section.