What Are The 6 Cs Of Nursing Care?
When researching care homes or nursing care, you may come across the term ‘The 6 Cs’. The 6 C’s of nursing care are: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage and Commitment.
First established in December 2012 by NHS England Chief Nursing Officer Jane Cummings as part of the ‘Compassion In Practice’ strategy, the 6 Cs were introduced to improve care in all nursing, midwifery and care-giving settings.
They are described as being ‘essential to compassionate care’ (NHS England), helping health and social care workers provide a high standard of care.
As nursing care and care home professionals, all of the Caring Homes teams across the country are trained in accordance with these values. They form a crucial part of our care delivery and align with the values on which Caring Homes was founded.
1. Care
Care is the defining feature of our work as health and social care professionals. It’s our purpose, forming the basis of everything that we do. Our priority is to provide high quality care for all, whether you are a permanent resident of one of our care homes, or staying with us for a respite short stay.
At Caring Homes, this ‘C’ means providing a caring home for each resident. Whether that means supporting them to continue with lifelong hobbies, joining in group activities or spending time with their favourite carer. We find out all we can about our residents so that they can continue to enjoy what bring them a sense of purpose and meaning.
2. Compassion
Compassion is how we frame and deliver our care – with empathy and dignity for all. Having compassion for the people around us is a vital part of providing the best care possible. It means the nursing care we provide is respectful and all residents are treated as individuals before anything else.
Our fully trained nurses are specialists in caring for older people. They are able to provide care for a range of needs, including complex conditions which are always handled with skill and compassion.
3. Competence
All those in caring roles must have the ability to understand the nuances of caring for those with complex health conditions and the capability to deliver effective care and treatments based on evidence-backed research.
At Caring Homes, all our Registered General Nurses are trained to the highest standards and have up-to-date knowledge on treatments and help for those in our care. We’re proud to say that amongst the team, several nurses have earned the distinguished Queen’s Nurse Award, highlighting their commitment and expertise in nursing care.
4. Communication
Communication is a vital part of being a healthcare provider or worker. It comes hand in hand with number 2 – compassion. We cannot be compassionate with our residents if we cannot communicate with them, as clear communication on the care they are receiving, as well as being able to listen to their wants and needs forms an important part of this.
Having the right skills to communicate with those around us helps build relationships with nursing care residents and their loved ones, as well as with each other on the team. This means we can provide better, more efficient care.
5. Courage
Nursing care requires courage in a number of ways. From speaking up on concerns that we have about a resident’s care or wellbeing, to adapting to new challenges and environments regularly, having courage is part of the 6 Cs of nursing to ensure that team members know they will do the best they can for those in their care.
6. Commitment
As nursing care professionals, we have a commitment to our residents, their loved ones and the rest of our team to do our absolute best to provide comprehensive, respectful, compassionate care.
We have a commitment to our residents and their families to continuously improve our knowledge and practice to continue to provide the highest quality care. As a care home group, we invest in all our nurses, carers and team members, ensuring their training is always following the latest policies and procedures.
The 6 Cs of nursing are a foundation in which we learn, grow and provide, they are at the heart of everything we do at Caring Homes and we are continuing to develop our knowledge and practice to ensure we’re at the forefront of healthcare for those who need it.
Find one of our nursing homes near you and enquire to book a viewing for yourself or a loved one. For more information on our nursing care please get in touch.
