Four pillars of nursing
The standards developed alongside each definition (enhanced, advanced and consultant level) are aligned to the four pillars of nursing. Find out more about how the integration of all capabilities across these pillars is key to the nursing workforce.
Key principles
- The four pillars of nursing apply irrespective of where nursing staff work.
- The core capabilities listed under each pillar can be set out according to the level of nursing.
- Additional capabilities can be described that reflect the role and responsibilities of a nurse according to the primary focus of the context in which they work. For example, nurse researchers will have additional capabilities under the research pillar that reflect the expectations of their scope of practice.
When the term 'practice' is used in nursing, there is often an assumption that this refers solely to nurses working in a clinical setting providing direct patient care. A limitation of this perspective is that it does not make it clear that while clinical knowledge and skills are important, nurses also use their knowledge and skills in education, research, and leadership to provide safe, high-quality, person-centred care. Together these aspects are described as the ‘four pillars of practice’ and mark the importance of these key elements.
The concept of the four pillars is referred to across nursing publications by respective departments of health i