Professionalism In Nursing Research Paper

According to Webster, professionalism is defined as, “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person.” So, what is a professional? Webster defines a professional as, “characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession, exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace. A nurse’s career starts with nursing school and passing the NCLEX-RN and goes on to constant learning and growth of their skills as a professional. It is important to be professional not only in the work place but while you are off work as well. Everything from your appearance to your to your communication skills.

First and foremost we’ll begin with why
Pavalko in 1971 offered eight dimensions to describe a profession. Most all of them can be correlated to nursing. First, having a theoretical framework as a basis for practice. Nurses use evidence-based knowledge gathered by specialists in order to advance in their profession and perform daily tasks. Second, the profession has relevance to social values. The main focus for nurses is treatment of illness and promoting health as its goal. Third, the profession has a training or educational period. Nurses have a period of education through studies and a practical hands on learning period. Fourth, the Elements of self-motivation address the way in which the profession serves the patient or family and larger social systems. Working in healthcare organizations nurses are directly serving patients, family, and a larger social system. They are directly working with these people. Fifth, members are autonomous and control their profession. Nurses do not totally work autonomous. They are governed by their State board of Nursing. Also, under the Nurse Practice Act. Sixth, the profession has a commitment to lifelong work. Nursing is not a field you take to move into another profession outside of nursing. Once you are in the nursing field it is a lifelong commitment. Seventh, members have a common identity and distinctive subculture. Eighth, the profession has a code of ethics. “The first official Code for Professional Nurses was adopted in 1950 by the American Nurses Association. As the profession has evolved, it has been revised to address issues that affect nursing.” (Revell