Part four: Health professions

At the place where they practise, nurses have suitable facilities and appropriate technical means to ensure that they are received, that care is properly provided, that patients are safe and that professional secrecy is respected. In particular, they must ensure that the medical devices they use are sterilised and decontaminated and that healthcare waste is disposed of in accordance with regulatory procedures. They must not practise their profession in conditions…

A nurse may not move into a building where another nurse is practising without the latter’s agreement or, failing that, without the authorisation of the Conseil Départemental de l’Ordre. Such authorisation may only be refused on grounds of risk of confusion for the public. Silence on the part of the departmental council will be deemed to constitute tacit authorisation on expiry of a period of two months from receipt of…

I. – Nurses are free to communicate to the public, by any means, including on a website, information likely to contribute to the patient’s free choice of practitioner, relating in particular to their professional skills and practices, their career path and the conditions of their practice. This communication must comply with the provisions in force and the ethical obligations defined in this chapter. It shall be fair and honest, shall…

I. – Nurses are authorised to include in directories for public use, whatever the medium, : 1° Their surname, first names and professional address, how they can be contacted and the days and times when they can be consulted ; 2° His status with regard to health insurance organisations; 3° Their qualifications, diplomas and functions recognised by the Conseil national de l’ordre and any honorary distinctions recognised by the French…

Nurses may display their surname, first names, telephone numbers, days and hours of consultation and their status with regard to health insurance organisations on a plaque at their place of practice. They may also mention their qualifications, diplomas and functions recognised by the Conseil national de l’ordre. A plaque may be affixed to the entrance of the building and another to the door of the practice. Where the layout of…

When setting up or changing their practice, nurses may publish advertisements in any medium, taking into account the recommendations issued by the National Council of the Order.

I. – The nurse’s place of practice is that of the professional residence in respect of which he/she is registered on the roll of the Departmental Council of the Association. II. – If the needs of the population so require, a nurse may carry out his professional activity on one or more sites other than his usual professional residence, when there is a lack or inadequacy of healthcare provision in…

I. – All contracts or amendments thereto relating to the practice of the profession shall be drawn up in writing. Any professional association or company shall be the subject of a written contract. These contracts must respect the independence of each nurse. II. – The contracts and amendments referred to in I are communicated to the departmental council of the professional body to which the nurse belongs. This council shall…

In practices where several nurses work together, whatever their legal status, the practice of the profession must remain personal. Each nurse retains his or her professional independence. Nurses shall respect the right of all persons to freely choose their nurse. Nurses may use documents on the common letterhead of the association or society of which they are a member. The signatory must be identifiable and his/her address mentioned.

It is forbidden to practise the profession of nursing on a regular basis. However, exemptions may be granted by the Conseil Départemental de l’Ordre in the interests of public health.