Nurses' role in the new NHS: standardization of practice

The changes that have been proposed or introduced in healthcare provision since the publication of 'A First Class Service' (Department of Health (DoH), 1988) and 'The NHS Plan' (DoH, 2000) have the potential to enhance the quality and equality patient care across the country. These include the development of national technology appraisals and clinical guidelines, greater flexibility over the roles performed by some healthcare professionals and the development of care protocols. This article identifies some of the issues that these initiatives present to nursing, including standardization of practice and addressing individual need, the interface between care protocols or guidelines and professional judgement, and the need for a clear definition of the role of nursing.