Nursing standard of care is based on what an ordinary, prudent nurse with similar education and nursing experience would do in similar circumstances. Standards of practice provide a guide to the knowledge, skills, judgment and attitudes that are needed to practice safely. For example, standard of care urinary incontinence nursing staff must keep resident clean and dry, observing skin for changes such as reddened area with each incontinent and barrier creams to be used on all incontinent residents per facility protocol. A nurse must have followed the policies and protocol to give the care. If a nurse does not meet the standard of practice, a nurse may be found negligent if he or she negligence caused a patient harm. On the other hand, accountability
