Nursing has not always been viewed as the skilled and polished profession that it is today. In nursing’s primitive beginning there were no set rules, regulations, or protocols follow nor were there any professional training offered to those in charge of caring for the ill and injured. Nursing was not even considered to be a true profession. Instead most nurses were mother’s caring for ill family members or women who volunteered to care for injured solders during times of war. During this time “neither life nor women were valued by society.” C. Taylor, C. Lillis, P. LeMone and P. Lynn (2011). Nursing has come a long way since those dark days but the profession unfortunately still has its obstacles to overcome. Sadly for the nursing profession many of our older more experienced nursing population are retiring from practice leaving a nursing shortage. This shortage has allowed many new nurses to enter into practice undertrained and lacking knowledge and skill in ethical values and professionalism. This is why it is imperative that in this highly valued and trusted profession that all new nurses must be knowledgeable in ethics and able to exhibit professionalism.
The most prominent resource that emphasizes nursing professionalism is an article from the Kentucky Nurses. The author Teresa Huber thoroughly demonstrates the idea behind nursing professionalism and the importance of being a skilled nurse. The author states that professionalism is “respect for human dignity and to never discriminate against patients” (Huber 2015). Professionalism isn’t purely based on appearance but also on the attitude of the nurse and the amount of respect a nurse shows their patients. It’s important for a nurse to never judge a patient and never make a patient feel like they are in the wrong, doing so demonstrates an inability to care for the patient in a respectful manner. Also demonstrating disrespect to a patient’s wishes and concerns will only worsen the rapport the nurse must make with the patient. The author also expresses that “We are accountable for ourselves” (Huber 2015, p.1) that nurses must take responsibility for their actions and make sure that they are giving the best quality care that they can give. If a nurse doesn’t perform to the best of their capability the nurse is demonstrating a lack of motivation and determination. This article reinforces core beliefs on nursing professionalism because it helps explain that a nurse’s attitude and treatment toward the patient is essential to perform their
The code of ethics are ethical obligations and duties for every person whom may decide to become a nurse. To practice competently and with integrity, nurses of today must have key elements in place which will guide the profession. Key elements would include licensure, certification, and education and a relevant code of ethics (ANA, 2015). This paper will discuss the Code of Ethics Provisions five through nine.
As a profession, nursing involves caring. Caring for the patient, the family and for each other is the fabric of the nursing profession. Additionally, The American Nurses Association code of ethics mandate nurses to behave in a just manner where every patient is given autonomy and is treated with dignity (ANA, 2000). In order to treat patients wi...
In the field of nursing, compassion, understanding, and tenacity are valued characteristics that allows the nurse to be effective in his/her provision of care. It necessitates the delivery of quality care with the greatest respect and patience for all persons of varying lifestyles. The nurse-patient relationship respects the autonomy of patients as individuals through dignity and worth (Rich, 2008). It is mandated that in all professional relationships, the nurse practices with compassion and without restrictions toward each individual regardless of diversity, socioeconomic condition or ethnicity (Rich, 2008).
Fowler, M. D., & American Nurses Association (2008). Guide to the code of ethics for nurses: Interpretation and application. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association.
The nursing health field didn’t start as professional and organized as it is today. It started long away in the 19th -20th century; with a lady named Florence Nightingale. She was well known for her night rounds to help assist the wounded soldiers. She was known as, “Lady with the Lamp” (Potter & Perry, 2015 pg.106). What we are learning in school today is about the fundamental of patient care, cleanliness, and management is the legacy of Florence Nightingale. According to Fundamentals of Nursing by Yoost and Crawford, it stated that nursing profession has elevated to a higher degree of professionalism and respectability. I believe that professionalism is required in the working place. As a professional nurse, I’m expected to
Typically, persons who are require nursing care are indeed vulnerable human beings. A nurse who intends to approach a patient as a whole pays attention not only to the physical aspects but to the relational, social, psychological, ethical and spiritual dimensions of being a person (Gastmans, 2013). The vulnerability that affects the patient in all these dimensions results in the dignity of the person being jeopardized. Thus, dignity-enhancing nursing care aims to respond to all these aspects of human vulnerability in effort to maintain the patient’s self-respect, self-esteem and individual
Ethics and integrity are essential parts of the nursing profession since they provide nurses with the capacity for weighing in on the impacts that their actions may have on the profession (Guido, 2014). However, maintaining high levels of ethics and integrity may create significant challenges for nurses some of which impact on their position as healthcare providers. One of the key challenges that nurses experience as part of their profession is increased cases of ethical dilemmas some of which impact on their abilities to make decisions based on the interests of their patients. The nursing code of ethics indicates the need for nurses to ensure that the decisions or actions they take reflect on the interests
Dignity and respect for patients is important in adult nursing because without it, it dehumanises them, and creates opportunities for abuse and ill treatment to occur. Lack of dignity and respect can also cause emotional problems for patients, as they are already in a vulnerable state.