The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has issued nurses a new guide to help them understand the business and financial workings of the NHS.
The RCN’s “An introduction to costing and coding healthcare” has been put together with the help of frontline nurses, NHS managers and financial experts.
They hope the information will give nurses the tools they need to thrive and survive in a “modern NHS”.
The RCN guide will cover the concept of payment by results, bidding for new projects and clinical coding.
Dr Peter Carter, RCN general secretary, said: “Business skills and clinical skills are two sides of the nursing coin.
“Nurses work in a huge range of healthcare setting and not only are they delivering patient care, but they are also major players in delivering change.”
He adds that nurses need to have the skills to make a business case for keeping a particular service.
He concludes: “I hope this guide helps demystify the financial and business practices in the NHS and by doing so gives nurses the confidence to stand up and speak out about the business decisions affecting their workplaces and their patients.”
