title: Comparative analysis of nursing and midwifery regulatory and professional bodies' scope of practice and associated decision-making frameworks: a discussion paper.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review, discuss and compare nursing and midwifery regulatory and professional bodies' scope of practice and associated decision-making frameworks.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Scope of practice in professional nursing and midwifery is an evolving process which needs to be responsive to clinical, service, societal, demographic and fiscal changes. Codes and frameworks offer a system of rules and principles by which the nursing and midwifery professions are expected to regulate members and demonstrate responsibility to society.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discussion paper.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve scope of practice and associated decision-making frameworks (January 2000-March 2014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two main approaches to the regulation of the scope of practice and associated decision-making frameworks exist internationally. The first approach is policy and regulation driven and behaviour oriented. The second approach is based on notions of autonomous decision-making, professionalism and accountability. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive, but have similar elements with a different emphasis. Both approaches lack explicit recognition of the aesthetic aspects of care and patient choice, which is a fundamental principle of evidence-based practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing organizations, regulatory authorities and nurses should recognize that scope of practice and the associated responsibility for decision-making provides a very public statement about the status of nursing in a given jurisdiction.
authors: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Catriona
authors: C
authors: Kennedy
authors: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Pauline
authors: P
authors: O'Reilly
authors: UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Gerard
authors: G
authors: Fealy
authors: UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Casey
authors: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Anne-Marie
authors: AM
authors: Brady
authors: UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: McNamara
authors: UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Geraldine
authors: G
authors: Prizeman
authors: UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Daniela
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8834-2539
authors: D
authors: Rohde
authors: Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Hegarty
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D007494:Ireland; D007884:Legislation, Nursing; D008880:Midwifery / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: clinical judgement; midwifery; nurse roles; nursing; professional regulation