Working beyond the scope of your nursing role: how to push back

Mismatches between nurses’ skills and experience and their assigned duties put safety and careers at risk. Find out the steps you can take to maintain safe practice

• Many nurses say they are asked to take on work that is inappropriate to their roles or banding – working either above or below their competency
• Lack of knowledge when moved to specialist areas can leave nurses anxious and demoralised, and put patient care at risk
• What the NMC says about employers’ responsibility to ensure staff are not working outside their competency, and how you can ensure your practice remains safe

As a depleted nursing workforce is spread ever thinner to cover gaps in staff rotas,