Nursing as a profession

Nursing as a ProfessionNursing as a Profession
S.M. Nazmul Al-Deen,
Lecturer,
ART NURSING COLLEGE.

Nursing is an art;
and if it is to be made an art,
it requires as exclusive a devotion,
as hard a preparation,
as any painter's or sculptor's work;
for what is the having to do with
dead canvas or cold marble,
compared with having to do with the
living body - the temple of God's spirit?
It is one of the Fine Arts;
I had almost said
the finest of the Fine Arts
- Florence Nightingale

Profession is defined as "a vocation েপেশা
requiring advanced training and usually
involving mental rather than manual work,
as teaching, engineering, especially
medicine, law“
-Webster1989.

ProfessionProfession
Professions are those occupations possessing a
particular combination of characteristics
generally considered to be the expertise,
autonomy, commitment, and responsibility.
A profession is an occupation based on
specialized intellectual study and training, the
purpose of which is to supply skilled services
with ethical ৈনৈতিতিকcomponents and others.

OccupationOccupation
Training may be on job and duration
varies.
The values, beliefs, and ethics are not
prominent features.
The commitment and identification: varies.
In occupation people often change Job.
Accountability rest on employer.

 Is basically intellectual
 Is based on a body of knowledge that can be
learned.
 Is practical rather than theoretical.
 Can be taught through a process of professional
education.
 Has a strong internal organization of members.
 Has practitioners who are motivated by altruism
(desire to help others)
Profession

Professions vs OccupationsProfessions vs Occupations
SL.
NO.
Professions Occupations
1. 1 College or University On the job training
1. 2 Prolonged education Length varies
1. 3 Mental creativity Largely manual work
1. 4
Decisions based on science or
theoretical constructs
Guided decision
making
1. 5
Values, beliefs & ethics integral part of
preparation
Values, beliefs & ethics
not part of preparation
1. 6 Strong commitment Commitment may vary
1. 7 Autonomous Supervised
1. 8 Unlikely to change professions Often change jobs
1. 9 Individual accountability
Employer is primarily
accountable

Genevieve and Roy Bixler, a husband and
wife team of non-Nurses who were
nevertheless advocates and supporters of
nursing, first wrote about the status of
nursing as a profession in 1945

They appraised nursing according to
theire original seven criteria, noting the
progress made in nursing, as a
profession.

Abraham Flexner (1910), conducted study
of medical education and went on to study
other disciplines and latter, in a paper about
social work published a list of criteria that
he felt were characteristics of all true
professions. Flexner's believed in
professional work

Criteria of profession:Criteria of profession:
Abraham Flexner (1916)Abraham Flexner (1916)
Intellectual (opposite of physical).
Based on body of knowledge, that can be learned.
Practical rather than theoretical.
Can be taught through a process of professional
education.
Has a string দৃঢ় internal organization of members.
Has practioner

William shepherd (1948):William shepherd (1948):
Based on scientific principles.
Demands: adequate pre-professional and cultural
training.
Demand: specialized and systematized knowledge.
Must give: evidence of needed
Scientific technique: tested experiences.
Time judgment / duty Performance.
Beneficial work.
Group consciousness: scientific knowledge.
Sufficient self impelling অনুপ্র্রাণিণিত করাণ power.
Obligation to society: code of ethics.

Kelly: - 1981Kelly: - 1981
Service provided is vital to humanity and
welfare of society.
Special body of knowledge: continually.
Intellectual activity: accountability.
Educated in institutions.
Relatively independent: autonomy.
Motivated by job / service.
Code of ethics: to guide decisions.
Organization (association): to encourage and
support practice.

Standard of ANA – Scope and Standards of Practice, 2004Standard of ANA – Scope and Standards of Practice, 2004
According to Bruhn - 2001
Be civil
Be ethical
Be honest
Be the best
Be consistentসাণমঞ্রজসয্রপ্ূর্ণির্র
Be a communicator
Be accountable
•Be collaborative
•Be forgiving
•Be current
•Be involved
•Be a model

Nursing is gaining recognition as aNursing is gaining recognition as a
profession based on the criteria that aprofession based on the criteria that a
profession must have: -profession must have: -
A well defined body of knowledge.
A strong service orientation.
Recognized authority by a professional group.
A code of ethics: ICN.
A professional organization that sets standards
On going research.
Autonomy.
Hence, nursing is a Nobel profession,
Recognized internationally.

1. A profession utilizes in its practice a well-
defined and well-organized body of specialized
knowledge.
2. A profession constantlyপ্র্রতিতিনিনিয়তিন enlarges the
body of knowledge it uses and improves its
techniques of education and service by the
scientific method.
3. A profession entrusts নিয্রতস্রততিনকরা the education of
its practitioners to institutions of higher
education.
Functions of Profession :

4. A profession applies its body of
knowledge in practical services which are
vital to human and social welfare.
5. A profession functions autonomously in
the formation of professional policy and
control of professional activity thereby.

6. A profession attracts individuals of
intellectual and personal qualities who exalt
উনি্রতনিতিনকরা service above personal gain and who
recognize their chosen occupation as a life
work.
7. A profession strives সংগ্র্রতামকরা to compensate
প্র্রতিতিনদানিকরা its practitioners by providing freedom
of action, opportunity for continuous
professional growth and economic security

Public Concern with NursingPublic Concern with Nursing
What is the image of nursing being created
today?
Saint vs. Sinner image
“Can I trust my life to this RN?
Public want to believe that knowledgeable,
caring, committed and dedicated RNs will be
available for them.

What the Public Believes About NursingWhat the Public Believes About Nursing
• RNs ranked highest among all professions for
the highest professional standards of honesty
and ethics
• Public seek advice in 4 areas:
–self-care or immediate post op care
–health care products
–administration
–interpreting physician-provided information

Nursing’s ViewNursing’s View
Female dominated by persons socialized to be
anti-intellectuals
Focus on skills rather than critical thinking
Knowledge is power

Communicating with PhysiciansCommunicating with Physicians
Factually document medical problems in
patient care terms
Stay on the issue, not personality
Appropriate communication
◦ do not allow inappropriate interruptions

Creating a New ImageCreating a New Image
Nurses value nursing and image it daily
Nurses take themselves seriously and dress
the part
Nurses recognize the value of caring, health
promotion, health teaching, and illness care
Nurses believe in themselves and their
colleagues

Barriers to ProfessionalismBarriers to Professionalism
Variability in educational preparation
Gender issues
Historical influences
External conflicts
Internal conflicts

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