Professionalism in nursing

IS NURSING A PROFESSION
MATETE R.P 201802991
SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO

Is nursing a profession? Matete R.P 201802991
Introduction
Nursing is an art and a science, it involves the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to
health and illness. It is often described to be a noble profession but to attest that it is a profession,
it must be having all the five characteristic which include; education, altruistic, commitment,
autonomy and code of ethics. This piece aims at proving that nursing is a profession by showing
how nursing assumes the above mentioned characteristics of a profession.
Nursing exhibits all the characteristics of a profession
Education and Nursing
The interrelatedness of nursing and education, research, and practice is that all nurses must take
certain education programs that help build their competence. Individual nurses engage in the total
scope of nursing practice that is entirely dependent on their educational preparation, experience,
role and the nature of the patient they serve. To perform well in their practice and yield good results
for the clients, nurses must use scientific methods and other ways of knowing to measure the
efficacy of interventions. Theoretical and research based understanding of phenomena i.e.
observable facts or events that can be perceived through the senses and are susceptible to
description and explanation, will influence the quality of clinical decisions made by the nurse.
Nursing like most profession Shows appreciation for scholarship, research and theory, such that
there are different types of programs of schooling from diplomas, associate degrees, from here
graduates have to licensing examination. There are also postgraduate programs which prepare
nurses to practice in different roles of advanced practice. Advanced practice nurses have acquired
and demonstrated a knowledge base and the practical experiences to prepare them for
specialization, expansion, and advancement in practice, hence we have areas like oncology
nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, etc.
Nursing shows great application of critical thinking in their practice and learning and Evaluates
own professional practice in light of new conditions and knowledge of which this shows the
exhibition of the theoretical character of a profession.

The altruistic nature of nursing
One of the styles in professionalism is the altruistic style, this is one of the characters of a
profession that nursing proofs to be have a complete relation to, just as it is often referred to as a
noble profession. Nurses give selflessly their care for others. The nurse cares for people in their
darkest hours, often taking unfair blame and criticism from their patients. They strive to understand
the emotional side of illness, and how it connects to the health of their patients. Nurses are often
able to act in the best interest of their patients above all else.
To show more the altruistic nature, Nurses care for their patients selflessly, often working long
hours under grueling conditions to provide care. Nurses endeavor to provide excellent care, no
matter what they are going through in their own lives. They have been called throughout history
to provide care to the sick no matter the pay. They provide care to their patients because they feel
called to do so and act considerably unselfish in the act.
Furthermore, many patients are not kind to their nurses. During times of illness, many people are
angry, and may take their anger out on the person closest to them. Oftentimes, this is the nurse.
The nurse therefore is be able to deal with this anger, and understand that it is not necessarily her
fault. They are able to help the patient through the angry feelings, and understand how they are
related to the illness. They also needs to be able to help the patient through the feelings so that the
emotional aspect of illness does not impede the path to wellness. The nurse works through their
own feelings and emotions to be able to help their patients, which can be difficult when patients
seem to be directing their anger at the nurse.
In general, nursing devotes practice to the interest of others, demonstrate motives of professional
practice that are not selfish, shows respect for others and above all, it shows a very positive attitude
towards co-workers, children, adults, and community members. This shows that nursing is
profession by exhibiting the altruistic value all professions.

Ethics and Nursing
Like most professions the concept of ethics is very much employed in the nursing discipline,
where, by definition, the word ethics refers to philosophical ideals of right and wrong behavior.
Just as nursing is a profession and adheres to ethics, there are a number of items to consider which
include; ethical issues, ethical frame works, principles of ethical reasoning and ANA (American
Nurses Association) code of ethics.
Application of ethical frameworks to nursing – these include utilitarian component which attempts
to doing most good with least harm and is most common in the nursing practice. We also have the
rights based component which best protects the rights and respects the moral rights of those
affected and it begins with idea of human dignity and freedom of choice where the patient has the
right to make the decision. There is also the duty based, in which decisions are made because there
is duty, i.e. duty to do or to refrain from doing something. We again, have Common good item,
which imposes that decision in nursing are made on what is good for the community as a whole,
not necessarily for the individual, where many of our nations laws are base, i.e. nursing like other
professions, works at the best interest of the community or society.
The other important part of the ethical frameworks is virtue, which deals with nurses’ actions being
consistent with certain ideal virtues that is decisions are directed at maintaining virtues (honesty,
courage, compassion, etc.). A person using this approach usually ask themselves, “If I carry out
these actions, what kind of person will I be?”
Principles of ethical reasoning – which include autonomy, beneficence and nonmaleficence,
confidentiality, fidelity, justice, paternalism, respect for persons, sanctity of life, and veracity are
all assumed in the nursing practice.
Autonomy, this supports Individual rights, Privacy and Freedom of choice, it therefore says that
patient has the right to make decisions for themselves. May see this come up with consent for
treatment issues, informed consent. Patient has right to know procedure, complications, other
options, that they can opt to not have the procedure/treatment. Beneficence & Nonmaleficence,
this is the duty to do good i.e. goodness, kindness, charity, and the duty not to cause harm and
preventing it, which is in some way, the core of nursing. Apart from these, there is also

confidentiality, which is very crucial, which entails keeping privileged information private. We
also have fidelity, which is the duty to be faithful to one’s commitments.
American Nurses ‘Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, these are Ethical principles agreed upon by
members of the nursing profession and applies to all nurses in all healthcare settings. It sets
standards of conduct and behaviors for nurses.
All professions adhere to ethical principles and regulation just a nursing follows all these on the
ethical side and can still be considered a profession.
Responsibility and Nursing
Nursing also proves to be very responsible like all professions, because it follows through
commitments and nurses always have to be accountable for own actions. Again, the responsibility
is further seen vividly where absolute critical thinking is employed before any reaction can be
made and considers the best interest of the client. There is also great evaluation of professional
practice by nurses and they confront discrepancies between intensions and actions, they go as far
as assessing own contribution realistically.
Commitment and Nursing
Nursing is one the disciplines that presents absolute commitment from its facilitators, it involves
spending time beyond the time of duty and to show the commitment nurses often take part in
professional organization like workers unions. They further identify their profession both during
utmost criticism and praise and articulates the profession’s philosophy and practice to the public.
Intellect and Nursing
Although nursing is still very educational, like most professions it is very intellectual. There is
always room for more information to help with development of the way procedures are done,
disease developments and discoveries as well as social dynamics. There is constant reading of
journals, keeping abreast of technical advances and reads about own and related professions and
specialties. There is also interaction amongst colleagues to gain new perspectives, through
conferences, workshops/seminars and their enrollment in short pertinent courses regularly.
This discipline also strives towards self-improvement especially by development of performance
skills.

Competence and Nursing
Like in most professions competence is the most important feature that is adapted by nursing, as
much a nurse can have all other professional features, which are also essential in her everyday
practice, a nurse must also be competent with whatsoever procedure she performs and this helps
nurses to earn trust from the patients and for the society to believe and acknowledge the nursing
profession. Incompetency in nursing would lead to poor service delivery, dwindling of the
individuals’ commitments, and generally mean that nursing would stop adhering to all
characteristic of a profession.
Status of professionals
People expect special person of this nursing profession and high quality service and nursing
Professionals should have high knowledge and high ideals, and often assume high status in the
society.
Conclusion
Being a profession nursing exhibits, fully, all of the above characteristic which are commonly
found in everything that is regarded as profession, like teaching, accounting and many others. In
nutshell, nursing is indeed a profession.

References
Potter, P. A., & Perry, A.G. (2009) Fundamentals of Nursing (7th ed.). Canada: Mosby.
Smeltzer, S. C., & Bare, B. G. (2008). Brunner & Suddarth's textbook of medical-surgical
nursing (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott
. http://www.scu.edMarkkula Center for Applied Bioethicsu/ethics.
Altun I. (2002) Burnout and nurses0 personal and professional values. Nursing Ethics 9, 269–
278.
Graneheim U.H. & Lundman B. (2004) Qualitative content analysis in nursing research:
concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today 24, 105–
112
Donahue, M. (1990). The past in the present. Journal of
Professional Nursing, 6, 9.
Sue C. DeLaune, Sue C. DeLaune(2002).Fundamentals of Nursing: Standards & Practice,
Second Edition, United States of America, Delmar.

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