Quintessential Principles Of Professionalism In Nursing

Of all the words that come to mind when describing nursing, descriptions such as caring and compassionate readily come to mind. Yet when it comes to applying the word “professional”, as defined by Merriam-Webster as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation”(1993), to the nursing field, there is still a large debate even among the nursing community as to whether it is indeed relevant.. Following its development of a formal identity in the 1800’s, nursing has slowly evolved into a field worthy of professional recognition. In particular, after examining the current state of the discipline, the field of nursing follows the general principles of a profession, specifically including continual education,

Author Richard DeGeorge asserts the importance of all professions to maintain ethical codes, stating, “The very exercise of developing a code is in itself worthwhile; it forces a large number of people...to think through in a fresh way their mission and the important obligations they as a group and as individuals have with respect to society as a whole” (1997). Including the documentation of Florence Nightingale’s pledge in the 1800’s, nursing has always maintained a standard code of ethics and practice (). The American Nurses Association has one of the most current, formal code of ethics for nurses, but on a global scale, all nurses are to adhere by and follow similar ethical principles as those adopted by the International Council of Nurses. Similarly, in the United States, nurses are bound in their discipline to follow the guidelines established by HIPAA, centering on patient privacy. Lastly, within the states, all nurses are required upon completion from a program of study to pass a state licensing exam. It is a discipline that adheres to high standards of care. Thus, the level of professionalism in nursing is visibly evident by their unique ethical code and standards of