Standards of care, practice and performance are organized into four dimensions:
- Practice
- Outcomes
- Leadership
- Professional Profile
UEXCEL standards are based on national standards from the American Nurses Association. Performance standards may incorporate specialty standards per clinical area, such as published by the Oncology Nurses Society (ONS), American Association of Ambulatory Nurses (AAAN), or the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN). Each level of UEXCEL has identified critical standards in all four dimensions of practice that must be met by nurse performance. Nurses receive a copy of the standards during orientation, as well as during the contracting time period.