Nursing Concepts

Professionalism

Definition

• A profession is “a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science.”

• A professional is one who follows “an occupation as a means of livelihood or gain” or who is “engages in one of the learned professions.”

Definition

• Professionalism is exhibited by …professional character…or the “standing, practice, or methods of a professional” as distinguished from an amateur.” ~ American College Dictionary

• “The conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person” ~ Merriam-Webster Dictionary

6 Characteristics of a professional

1. Education2. Code of Ethics3. Compensation 4. Organized5. Autonomy6. Licensure

Education

• Accreditation of schools

• “Porterville College is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is recognized by licensing authorities of the State of California, the U.S. Office of Immigration and Naturalization, and the Veteran’s Administration.”

Education

• Accreditation of schools• Nursing research• Nursing theory• Nursing publications• Continuing education

Nurses Top List of Most Honest and Ethical Professions

• GALLUP NEWS SERVICE– December 14, 2006

• PRINCETON, NJ -- Someone seeking a job that commands high respect need look no further than nursing. According to Gallup's annual honesty and ethics poll, nurses top the list of occupations rated for their honesty and ethical standards, earning high marks from more than four in five Americans. A combined 84% of Americans describe nurses' ethics as "very high" or "high." What's more, only 2% of Americans say nurses have low ethical standards.

Code of ethics

• 04/17/2007 Nurse Steals Pain Medication from Patient

• Debra J. Krekovich, 51, was a registered nurse at Premier Estates nursing facility where she allegedly stole a patients prescription of Demerol. Demerol is a moderate to severe pain relief drug and can be very habit forming.

• Krekovich picked up the drug for the patient at the pharmacy but never delivered it. She admitted the theft to police and claimed she used it for her own chronic pain.

• Krekovich was charged with theft and possession of a controlled substance. Her employment with the nursing facility has been terminated.

Organized• Professional Nursing Organizations

– The American Academy of Nursing– The American Association of

Colleges of Nursing – The American Association of

Neuroscience Nurses – The American Association of Nurse

Anesthetists– The American Nurses Association– The American Nurses Credentialing

Center– American Public Health Association– Commission on Graduates of

Foreign Nursing Schools

– The National Council of State Boards of Nursing

– The National League for Nursing Accrediting

– The National League for Nursing– National Student Nurses'

Association– National Institute of Nursing

Research– Sigma Theta Tau International– U. S. Public Health Service Nursing

Autonomy

• Autonomy is the freedom to act on what you know, to make independent clinical decisions and to act in the best interest of the patient

• Judgment– Professionals are in a position, given their training and

education to use their own judgement in determining the appropriate approach to their clients

• Independence– They can work independently and charge fees or they can be

part of an organization

Licensure

• Board of Nursing• All states (since 1923)

Title 16 • California Code of Regulations, Division 25 Chapter 1. Vocational

Nurses(Includes Amendments Through June 1, 2008) • 2518.5. Scope of Vocational Nursing Practice.

– The licensed vocational nurse performs services requiring technical and manual skills which include the following:

• (a) Uses and practices basic assessment (data collection), participates in planning, executes interventions in accordance with the care plan or treatment plan, and contributes to evaluation of individualized interventions related to the care plan or treatment plan.

• (b) Provides direct patient/client care by which the licensee: – (1) Performs basic nursing services as defined in subdivision (a); – (2) Administers medications; – (3) Applies communication skills for the purpose of patient/client care and

education; and – (4) Contributes to the development and implementation of a teaching plan

related to self-care for the patient/client.

2518.6. Performance Standards. • (a) A licensed vocational nurse shall safeguard patients'/clients' health and safety by

actions that include but are not limited to the following: – (1) Reporting to the Board acts specified in Sections 2878 and 2878.5 of the Business and

Professions Code; – (2) Documenting patient/client care in accordance with standards of the profession; and – (3) Performing services in accordance with Section 125.6 of the Business and Professions

Code. • (b) A licensed vocational nurse shall adhere to standards of the profession and shall

incorporate ethical and behavioral standards of professional practice which include but are not limited to the following:

– (1) Maintaining current knowledge and skills for safe and competent practice; – (2) Maintaining patient/client confidentiality; – (3) Maintaining professional boundaries with the patient/client; – (4) Abstaining from chemical/substance abuse; and – (5) Cooperating with the Board during investigations as required by Section 2878.1 of the

Business and Professions Code. (c) A violation of this section constitutes unprofessional conduct for purposes of initiating disciplinary action.

Pass Rates for LVN Boards

SCHOOL 2004 2005 2006 2007

Porterville College 87% 81% 79% 83%

Pacific College 79% 80% 84% 88%

Palo Verde Community - 85% 80% 78%

Pasadena City College 73% 73% 74% 96%

Preferred College - Carson - - 73% 78%

Preferred College - LA - 65% 80% 85%

Premiere Career College - 33% 75% 79%

Sierra Community College 100% 100% 100% 100%

Summit Career College - 77% 63% 59% 53%

The ANA Code for Nurses defines professionalism, as follows:

1. The nurse provides services with respect for human dignity and the uniqueness of the client, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.

2. The nurse safeguards the client’s right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.

3. The nurse acts to safeguard the client and the public when health care and safety are affected by the incompetent, unethical, or illegal practice of any person.

4. The nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for individual nursing judgments and actions.

5. The nurse maintains competence in nursing.

The ANA Code for Nurses defines professionalism, as follows:

6. The nurse exercises informed judgment and uses individual competence and qualifications as criteria in seeking consultation, accepting responsibilities, and delegating nursing activities to others.

7. The nurse participates in activities that contribute to the ongoing development of the profession’s body of knowledge.

8. The nurse participates in the profession’s efforts to implement and improve standards of nursing.

9. The nurse participates in the profession’s efforts to establish and maintain conditions of employment conducive to high quality nursing care.

10. The nurse participates in the profession’s effort to protect the public from misinformation and misrepresentation and to maintain the integrity of nursing.

11. The nurse collaborates with members of the health professions and other citizens in promoting community and national efforts to meet the health needs of the public.

Practical Information• Common Courtesy!

– Express your gratitude– Smile. – Recognize the achievements of others– Respect the opinions and decisions of others, even if you

disagree with them. – Treat others with respect. – Act kindly toward others without expecting anything in return. – Respond to rudeness with kindness. – Be gentle in your dealings with others.

• Be respectful to everyone you meet– Time– Be flexible

• Professional appearance– Grooming– Uniform– Neat and clean– Don’t…

• Professional speech

Nightingale Pledge

• I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.