How many national standards of practice and performance are defined by the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice?

• A. 17
• B. 10
• C. 5
• D. 25

Answer: (A)

Two categories of standards are defined: standards of practice, which outline the steps of the nursing process, and standards of professional performance, which describe how nurses demonstrate professional behavior. The ANA Scope and Standards of Practice lists six standards of practice (assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation) and eleven standards of professional performance, for a total of seventeen national standards. This total reflects both the concrete steps of patient care and the broader professional competencies that guide nursing practice. So the number defined is seventeen.