Developing competencies and training to enable senior nurses to take on full responsibility for DNACPR processes

There is currently great interest and activity around the development of do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) policies in health and social care. This paper describes how South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in the UK underwent a process of agreeing a competency framework and devising an accompanying training course to enable senior nurses to be decision makers and signatories for DNACPR forms. The competencies that were agreed are presented, along with an exploration of the benefits of nurses completing DNACPR forms, including a costing of apparent financial benefits. With the restructuring of SHAs on the horizon it is important to share practice development in order to avoid duplication of effort.