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Confidence in caring: a framework for best practice

In a rapidly changing world it is vital that nursing continues to command the confidence and trust of patients. For the growing numbers of older people admitted to our busy hospital wards this is determined by the whole care experience; yet we constantly hear of deficiencies in caring.

Confidence in caring developed in response to this. It emerged from a national project with patients, relatives and staff in several hospitals across the country; it aimed to help nurses meet the many challenges of caring today and put the values and ideals on which nursing is founded, into practice.

Confidence in caring offers a shared language and shared understanding of what caring means for older people and describes what caring looks like so that it can be observed, improved and rewarded.

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