If you’re already well into your nursing career then you will be very familiar with the 6 Cs of nursing and it should be something that comes very naturally to you! If you’re new to the concept then it’s they are a very important part of nursing you should frequently bear in mind. Their purpose is to ensure patients are looked after with care and compassion every day. While the healthcare landscape may evolve over time with new research, emerging tech and innovative ideas, these six standards are a constant that remain the same.
As they are an important set of values for all health and social care workers, we thought we’d provide a little refresher on why they play such a pivotal role in helping you provide exceptional care to your patients and excel in your nursing career. No matter how busy your shift is or how challenging a new environment, stick to the 6 Cs to ensure you continue to do what you do best!
Why were the 6 Cs of nursing introduced?
The 6 Cs – care, compassion, courage, communication, commitment, competence - are a central part of ‘Compassion in Practice’, which was first established by NHS England Chief Nursing Officer, Jane Cummings, in December 2017.
They were introduced as a way of articulating and defining the values which need to underpin the culture and practice of healthcare organisations delivering care and support. They are
What are the 6 Cs of nursing?
Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system and are hugely important to the NHS in the UK. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that there are more individuals working in the nursing field than in any other healthcare profession! To ensure each and every nurse is operating under the same set of values, the 6 Cs were put in place as a national strategy for care, and can be defined as:
1. Care
Care is at the core of what nurses do and the care they deliver helps to improve the health of our entire community. Patients receiving that care expect it to be specific to their needs and consistent throughout every stage of their lives.
2.Compassion
The relationships that nurses build with their patients are based on empathy, respect and dignity. It can also be described as intelligent kindness and is central to how people perceive their care.
3.Courage
Courage enables nurses to make the right choices throughout their career and do what’s best for their patients. It’s up to nurses to speak out if they have concerns and have the personal strength to easily adapt to each new environment and overcome any challenge that is thrown at them.
4.Communication
Communication is essential to a nurse’s success, as it enables them to build caring relationships with their patients and work well with their colleagues as part of a team. Listening is also just as important when it comes to caring for your patients, as they need to be kept informed about decisions but also feel they are being heard.
5.Commitment
Nursing professionals have a commitment to their patients and this helps them take the necessary steps to improving the quality of care they receive and ensuring they have a positive care experience.
6.Competence
Competence means that those in a caring role must have the natural ability to understand their patient’s health and social needs and have the relevant expertise, clinical, and technical knowledge to deliver effective care and treatments based on research and evidence.
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FAQs
Care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment are the 6 C's established by the NHS and play a vital role in providing compassionate care that is of an excellent standard and delivered by registered healthcare professionals, clinical support staff, non-clinical staff and nurses within nursing ...
Why are the 6 cs important? ›
The purpose of the 6Cs is to ensure people are looked after with care and compassion, by professionals who are competent, communicate well, have the courage to make changes that improve care and can deliver the best, and commit to delivering this all day, every day (NHS 6Cs England, 2012).
Why are the 6 C's of communication important? ›
They are, Clear, Concise, Correct, Contextual, Concrete and Caring. Becoming adept at harnessing the Six C's also makes you a more compelling individual and not just a compelling communicator.
What is the most important C in the 6 C's? ›
Care is our core business and that of our organisations; and the care we deliver helps the individual person and improves the health of the whole community. Caring defines us and our work. People receiving care expect it to be right for them consistently throughout every stage of their life.
Why were the 6Cs introduced? ›
The 6 Cs ensure that the standard for Health Care professionals remains consistent, compassionate, and high quality. The Compassion in Practice strategy, including the 6 Cs, was devised by Jane Cummings, NHS England Chief Nursing Officer. It launched in December 2012.
What does 6Cs mean? ›
What nouns beginning with C do you think might be essentially important in delivery of health and social care? So, the 6Cs are care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. Let us have a look at each one individually.
How can the 6Cs build positive relationships? ›
Sometimes called the six key elements of building trust, the 6 C's are the essential skills and attributes that will help you enhance the confidence in your relationships: character, caring, competence, consistency, credibility, and communication.
Why is it important to communicate in a clear and concise way? ›
By delivering messages clearly, there is no room for misunderstanding or alteration of messages, which decreases the potential for conflict. In situations where conflict does arise, effective communication is a key factor to ensure that the situation is resolved in a respectful manner.
What are the important Cs of communication? ›
The 7 Cs stand for: clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous. Though there are a few variations. You can use the 7 Cs as a checklist in your written and spoken messages. Follow our examples to learn how!
What are the six C qualities of effective communication? ›
Whether you're writing in a formal or casual style, all good writing is characterized by the “6 Cs”:
- Clear.
- Concise.
- Coherent.
- Correct.
- Courteous.
- Convincing.
Care is the first C; Care is defined as the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something. The primary duty of the nurse is to care for the patient. Amongst all the C's this is the most important.
How do you demonstrate the 6 cs? ›
What are the NHS' 6 Cs of nursing?
- Compassion. Compassion means providing care in an empathic way, taking into account the patient's feelings and treating them with dignity and respect when they are at their most vulnerable. ...
- Competence. ...
- Communication. ...
- Courage. ...
- Commitment.
Wanting to impart this skill, Rakesh started teaching others how to communicate and present their ideas in meetings, sowing the seed for SoME. The School was established on the concept of six Cs of success: Communication, Confidence, Curiosity, Creativity, Collaboration and Competence.
Why are the 6Cs needed? ›
Their purpose is to ensure patients are looked after with care and compassion every day. While the healthcare landscape may evolve over time with new research, emerging tech and innovative ideas, these six standards are a constant that remain the same.
Why do we need 6Cs? ›
Care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment are the 6 C's established by the NHS and play a vital role in providing compassionate care that is of an excellent standard and delivered by registered healthcare professionals, clinical support staff, non-clinical staff and nurses within nursing ...
Who follows the 6Cs? ›
The 6 Cs are a set of values required by all patient-facing health and social care staff. This includes not only registered healthcare professionals, but also clinical support staff and non-clinical staff who may come into contact with patients or members of the public.
Why are care values important? ›
Values are central to work in health and social care. They are principles that guide workers to understand right from wrong and are about what is important when caring and supporting individuals.
Why is courage important in health and social care? ›
Courage enables us to do the right thing for the people we care for, to speak up when we have concerns. It means we have the personal strength and vision to innovate and to embrace new ways of working. A commitment to our patients and populations is a cornerstone of what we do.
How does the 6Cs prevent discrimination? ›
How does it prevent discrimination? it ensures that all the professionals and organizations have the best of their interest and focus towards the patient allowing all of them to have equal and best care.
Why is commitment important in health and social care? ›
Your patients and their care should be your priority. Being highly committed to them helps to improve their quality of care and experience as well as that of other patients. Commitment also means being committed to the job role, being committed to continuous learning and being adaptable.
