NURSING AS A PROFESSION

Marjorie G. Romano

Profession

“An occupation or calling requiring advanced training and experience in some specific or specialized body of knowledge which provides service to the society in that special field”

Nursing as a Profession

“Nursing is an occupation requiring a unique body of knowledge and skills and which serves society”

Criteria of a ProfessionWilliam Shepard a profession must;1. Satisfy an indispensible social need and

must be based upon well established and socially accepted scientific principles.

2. Demand adequate pre-professional and cultural training.

3. Demand the possession of a body of specialized and systematized training.

4. Give evidence of needed skills which are partly inherent and partly acquired.

Criteria of a Profession5. Have developed a scientific technique

which is the result of tested experience.6. Require the exercise of discretion and

judgment as to time and manner of the performance of duty. In contrast to the kind of work which is subject to standardization in terms of unit performance or time element.

7. Have a group of consciousness designed to extend scientific knowledge in technical language.

Criteria of a Profession8. Have sufficient self-impelling power to

retain its members throughout life. It must not be used as a mere stepping stone to other occupations.

9. Recognize its obligations to society by insisting that its members live up to an established code of ethics.

Qualities of a ProfessionFlexner cited profession as follows;1. Applies body of knowledge in practical

services vital to human welfare, and suited to tradition of practitioners shaping the skills of newcomers to the role.

2. Constantly enlarges the body of knowledge and impose on its members a lifelong obligation to remain current.

3. Functions autonomously4. Utilizes its practice in well-defined and weel-

organized body of knowledge

5. Has clear standard of educational preparation.

6. Distinguished by the presence of specific culture, norms, and other values that are common among its members.

Genevieve K & Roy Bixler• Specialized knowledge• Expands knowledge by scientific method• Institutions of higher education• Services vital to human and social welfare• Autonomously forms professional policy• Intellectual and personal qualities• Compensation = freedom, professional growth and

economic security

Professional Nurse

“A professional nurse is a person who has completed a basic nursing education program and is licensed in his/her country or state to practice professional nursing”

BSN Degree Passed the nursing licensure examination

Taken an oath as a

nurse before the Board or any officer authorized to given an

oath.

A nurse is now ready to face the real world of nursing

Scope of Nursing PracticeThe scope of nursing means the extent or range of

health care activities which a nurse can do or perform

pursuant to law.

A professions scope of nursing encompasses the activities its

practitioners are educated and authorized to perform. The overall scope

of practice for the profession sets the outer limits of practice for all

practitioners.

It is a legal nursing practice under section 28 of R.A 9173 when a licensed nurse performs:

a) Nursing services, whether singly or collaboratively, to individuals, families and communities in any health care setting.

b) Nursing care whether singly or collaboratively, during conception, labor, delivery, infancy, childhood, toddler, pre-school, school age, adolescence, adult and old age or basically in any age group/stage of development.

c) Nursing action as independent practitioners for the promotion of health and prevention of illness.

d) Collaborative work with other health care professionals for the curative, preventive and rehabilitative aspects of care, restoration of health, alleviation of suffering, and when recovery is not possible toward a peaceful death.

Duties of a nurse :

a) To provide nursing care through the utilization of the nursing process.

b) To establish linkages with community resources and coordination with the health team

c) To provide health education to individuals, families and communities.

d) To teach, guide and supervise students in nursing education programs including the administration of nursing services in varied settings such as hospitals and clinics.; undertake consultation services; engage in such activities that require the utilization of knowledge and decision making skills of a registered nurse.

e) To undertake nursing and health human resource development training and research which shall include, but not limited to the development of nursing practice.

(Section 28)(a) Provide nursing care through the utilization of the

nursing process. Nursing care includes, but not limited to, traditional

and innovative approaches, therapeutic use of self, executing health

care techniques and procedures, essential primary health care, comfort

measures, health teachings, and administration of written prescription

for treatment, therapies, oral topical and parenteral medications,

internal examination during labor in the absence of antenatal

bleeding and delivery. In case of suturing of perineal laceration,

special training shall be provided according to protocol established;

Professional PreparationA nurse must;1. Have a license2. BSN graduate3. Physically and

mentally fit

Personal Qualities & Professional Proficiencies

Includes;1. Interest and willingness2. Warm personality and concern3. Resourceful, creative and balanced emotional

condition4. Can work with others5. Improves self and service6. Competent7. Skillful in decision-making , communication,

relating to others and research8. Active in confronting nursing issues.

BSN Curriculum

Terminal Competencies1. Utilize the nursing process

1.1. assessing the client’s health care status,1.2. planning with client on what action for identified needs and problems,1.3. implement nursing intervention,1.4. modifies intervention, and1.5. evaluates results

2. Communicates effectively by2.1. applying “therapeutic use of self”,2.2. documenting & reporting,2.3. relating,

3. Utilizes elements of management by3.1. utilizes management process,3.2. participates,3.3.works independently or in collaboration

4. Utilize research findings

5. Assumes responsibility for personal and professional growth by5.1. promoting professional growth,5.2. accepting accountability for professional action, and,5.3. participating in the solution of health/social problems.

Overall BSN Program

1. Caring behavior (compassionate, competent and committed);

2. Ability to practice legal, ethico-moral, social responsibilities/accountabilities;

3. Critical and creative thinking; and4. Skill in practicing S-K-A and values