Scope, competence and local protocols

Scope defines the duties your role is intended to cover. Competence is what you can do safely given your training, experience and available support. Protocols state how the practice requires a task to be carried out.

Experience does not replace the need to follow protocols. Pressure does not increase your authority. If a task falls outside your scope, competence or the protocol, stop and ask for help.

Check before acting

• Am I trained to do this?
• Is this task in my role or job description?
• Is there a current protocol or script?
• Do I understand what information to record?
• Do I know when to escalate?
• Has someone accepted responsibility for the outcome?

Confidence is not the same as competence - follow the protocol and ask for help when a task exceeds your training.

When You Are New or Returning