Contesting competency: cultural safety in advanced nursing practice

A central tenet of the competency approach to nursing education and regulation is that it ensures the safe care of clients and communities with whom nurses work. However, the competency approach is problematic in its conception and application to nursing. Incorporation of this framework into advanced practice requires that its limitations are acknowledged so that current interpretations and applications can be challenged and resisted. Through exploring the concept of cultural competence some of the problems associated with the application of the competency approach to professional nursing practice will be exposed. The issues revealed in this exploration prompt the question whether the competency framework is the best way to ensure competent professional practice.