Comprehensive Definition of Professional Nursing Accountability: A Critical Review of the Literature

Abstract

This review explores the challenges of defining and integrating professional nursing accountability into nursing curricula. A consistent definition remains elusive, often relegated to the "hidden curriculum" through implicit learning. Through a review of literature, the paper proposes a multifaceted definition encompassing responsibility for actions, answerability for outcomes, addressing omissions, commitment to lifelong learning, and upholding professional standards. This comprehensive definition empowers educators to design targeted learning experiences, fostering the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for future nurses to deliver safe, high-quality patient care.