vital notes on accountability is a concise, accessible guide which provides students and newly qualified staff with an understanding of key issues in professional practice.nurses are accountable for their own practice and require a thorough understanding of their core responsibilities which underpin everyday practice in the health service today. this introductory text in the vital notes for nurses series sets out a framework for accountability which consists of four pillars - legal, ethical, employment and professional accountability - against which clinical issues can be considered.