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NMC CBT·ModulePROFESSIONAL-PRACTICE

Module 1: Professional Practice and the NMC Code

Module 1 covers the professional and legal foundations every nurse must know for UK practice. Topics include the NMC Code and its four themes, professional accountability, duty of candour, consent and mental capacity, safeguarding adults and children, and equality and diversity under the Equality Act 2010. This module underpins all other CBT modules and is free to access on NMC Prep.

Questions
651
Units
4
Topics
16
Access
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What’s in it.

4 units

Sample questions

3 of many

A few questions from this module, with the answer and a full explanation. The complete bank is available when you start practising.

  1. Which of the following correctly states that capacity is both decision-specific and time-specific under the MCA 2005?

    • A person may have capacity to make some decisions but not others, and capacity may vary over time depending on their condition
      Correct answer
    • Capacity is assessed once and remains fixed regardless of any change in the person's condition
    • Capacity applies to all decisions of a similar type; once assessed for one medical decision it applies to all medical decisions
    • Once a person is assessed as lacking capacity for one decision, they lack capacity for all decisions
    Explanation

    The MCA 2005 is explicit that capacity is decision-specific (a person may have capacity for simple decisions but not complex ones) and time-specific (capacity may fluctuate with health conditions such as delirium or intoxication). A single assessment for one decision cannot be applied to all future decisions. This prevents both under-assessment (assuming a person with one impaired area of capacity lacks all capacity) and over-assessment (assuming a person who once lacked capacity for one decision will always lack all capacity).

  2. A nurse omits a prescribed medication without clinical justification. The patient deteriorates and brings a civil negligence claim. The nurse is also referred to the NMC and faces internal disciplinary proceedings. Which statement best describes how the four pillars of accountability operate in this scenario?

    • The employment disciplinary proceedings replace the NMC's fitness-to-practise process, because the employer has primary accountability for the nurse's conduct
    • Professional accountability takes precedence over all other pillars; if the NMC finds no misconduct, the civil claim and employment proceedings must be dismissed
    • The four pillars are mutually exclusive; the nurse can only be held accountable under one pillar for any single incident
    • All four pillars operate concurrently and independently: legal (negligence claim), professional (NMC fitness-to-practise), employment (disciplinary proceedings), and ethical (duty owed to the patient); an outcome in one does not determine the outcome in another
      Correct answer
    Explanation

    The four pillars of accountability (professional, ethical, legal, employment) operate concurrently and each has its own standards, processes and outcomes. A single act or omission can engage all four simultaneously. Civil negligence claims, NMC fitness-to-practise proceedings, and internal disciplinary processes are entirely independent. Different standards of proof apply (civil cases use the balance of probabilities; criminal cases use the criminal standard; NMC proceedings use the civil standard). An outcome in one forum has no automatic effect on another.

  3. A nurse is involved in a best interests decision for an 88-year-old patient with dementia who needs hip surgery. A colleague says 'at her age and with her dementia, aggressive surgical treatment is not appropriate.' Which MCA 2005 provision does this reasoning violate?

    • MCA section 1 (presumption of capacity), because the colleague is assuming the patient cannot participate in the decision
    • MCA section 3 (supported decision-making), because no one has tried to help the patient understand the surgical options
    • The MCA does not directly address surgical decisions; the Human Rights Act 1998 is the more relevant provision in this scenario
    • MCA section 4 prohibits basing a best interests decision solely on age, appearance, or condition; the colleague's reasoning substitutes age and diagnosis for an individual assessment of the patient's actual circumstances, values, and wishes
      Correct answer
    Explanation

    MCA section 4 explicitly prohibits best interests decisions based solely on age, appearance, condition, or behaviour. The colleague's statement 'at her age and with her dementia' substitutes a demographic assumption for an individual assessment. A proper best interests decision must consider: the patient's own previously expressed wishes about surgery; the clinical evidence about risks and benefits specific to this patient; the views of family and carers; and the least restrictive option. Age and dementia are relevant clinical factors but cannot be the sole or primary basis for a decision.

Frequently asked questions

3 questions
What does the NMC CBT Professional Practice module cover?

Module 1 assesses knowledge of the NMC Code, professional accountability, duty of candour, scope of practice, revalidation, consent and mental capacity, confidentiality and GDPR, negligence and duty of care, safeguarding legislation, categories of abuse, the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS, and equality and diversity law.

What are the four themes of the NMC Code?

The four themes of The Code are: Prioritise people, Practise effectively, Preserve safety, and Promote professionalism and trust.

Is Module 1 free on NMC Prep?

Yes, the Professional Practice and NMC Code module is fully free with no credit card required.