Professional accountability: implications for primary healthcare nursing practice

The hallmark of professionalism is accountability, and this is necessary to consolidate the professional status of nursing. This article presents a review of the concept of professional accountability within the theoretical orientation of the role theory. It assumes that the nurse is performing roles that must be duly accounted for. It discusses the various areas of professional accountability with particular reference to primary healthcare nursing practice. It concludes that primary healthcare nurses are involved directly with the public on a daily basis, hence the need to be cognizant of their public position, level of responsibility, and professional accountability.