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NHS Using Protocols, Standards, Policies and Guidelines

NHS Using Protocols, standards, policies and guidelines

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Awal Taanee
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104 views2 pages

NHS Using Protocols, Standards, Policies and Guidelines

NHS Using Protocols, standards, policies and guidelines

Uploaded by

Awal Taanee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using protocols, standards, policies and guidelines to

enhance confidence and career development


In general, nurses appear to be much more compliant than doctors at working with protocols. Protocols
provide a clear logical structure and therefore added confidence for clinical management. In order to
create the most pertinent protocols and guidelines for your practice consider engaging the whole team
to create your own set – you will then know that these are appropriate and easy to follow.

The following publication gives clear guidance on how to write protocols and guidelines – Broughton R and
Rathbone B. What makes a good clinical guideline? Evidence Based Medicine 2001; 1 (11).

The terminology for protocols, guidelines and standards is often used interchangeably. However, these are
all different and to use them effectively you need to be clear about the definitions (see table below).

Terms and definitions


Term Definition
Protocol • An agreed framework outlining the care that will be provided to patients
in a designated area of practice. They do not describe how a procedure is
performed, but why, where, when and by whom the care is given
Standard • A statement, reached through consensus, which clearly identifies the
desired outcome. Usually used within audit as a measure of success
Policy • A formal written statement detailing the particular action to be taken in
a particular situation that is contractually binding
Guideline • Systematically derived statements that help practitioners to make
decisions about care in specific clinical circumstances. These should be
research or evidence based

Examples of national guidelines that provide robust evidence


for clinical management
• National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) – www.nice.org.uk
• Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) – www.sign.ac.uk
• www.eguidelines.co.uk
• Centre for reviews and dissemination – www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd

This document is intended as a guide only.


© Crown Copyright September 2006.
The text in this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context or used for commercial gain. The material must be acknowledged as Crown
Copyright and the title of the document specified. Where others have been referenced on specific documents and tools, the organisation must be acknowledged in full and the title of the document specified.
All links to external websites have been provided for your information and the Working in Partnership Programme take no responsibility for any material or content accessed on any such websites
Advantages of using protocols Disadvantages of using protocols
• Framework for a complex, specialised sequence of • Stifles individual care management.
activities. • May reduce need for qualified staff.
• Provides increased autonomy with a focus to shape • Require regular review.
future work.
• Compliance may be problematic.
• Ensures consensus within the primary care team.
• Restricts clinical discretion.
• Legal protection.
• Identifies training needs.
• May facilitate change.

What constitutes a good protocol?


• Clearly documented lines of accountability.
• Specific referral criteria.
• Clarity.
• Brevity.
• Fit with professional guidelines.

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