This provides a means to evaluate the quality of nursing practice and assists in assuring the public that quality nursing care is being delivered.

• A. The American Nurses Association: Standards of Professional Practice
• B. The Joint Commission
• C. The National League for Nursing Accreditation
• D. Nurse Coder

Answer: (A)

The standard by and for professional nursing practice provides the clearest framework for judging how well nursing care is delivered and for showing the public that care meets recognized expectations. The American Nurses Association’s Standards of Professional Practice outline what safe, competent, and ethical nursing looks like across all settings. They describe responsibilities in assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation, plus accountability and professional conduct. Because these standards serve as a benchmark for performance, self-assessment, peer review, and quality improvement, they naturally support evaluating practice quality and conveying to the public that care is being delivered to a high, consistent level.

In contrast, the Joint Commission focuses on accrediting entire organizations and setting patient-safety requirements rather than providing a universal standard of nursing practice. The National League for Nursing Accreditation concentrates on accrediting nursing education programs, not the ongoing practice of nurses. Nurse Coder isn’t a recognized standard-setting body for nursing practice.