Is Nursing a Profession?

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Is Nursing a Profession?

• N96 Spring, 2004

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What well be discussing

• Traditional professions
• Semi-professions
• Societys treatment of professionals
• Three views of what makes a profession/a person a
  professional
• Summary Your findings

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Traditional Professions

• Three of them medicine, clergy and law
• Key characteristics placing the good of others
  first
• Unique characteristics
• Educated, prestigious, powerful, service-oriented
• Where is nursing???

4
Semi-Professions

• Teachers, social workers, nurses
• Characterized by precise technical skills versus
  theoretical study
• Note nurses are the least educated of this group

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Societal View of the Professional

• Moral failures changed societys view
• Social changes eroded the publics trust
• Do we still need professionals?

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Three definitions of a profession

• Sociological
• Ethical
• Philosophical

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Sociological Definition of a Profession

• Essential knowledge expertise
• Knowledge is developed taught
• Control autonomy
• Licensure
• Monopoly over practice
• Code of Ethics

• Salaried
• Commitment investment
• Professional obligations
• Professional associations
• Power prestige
• Professional culture

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Ethical Definition of a Professional

• Fidelity
• Prudence
• Perseverance
• Courage
• Integrity

• Just
• Compassion
• Hope
• Humility

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Philosophical Definition of a Professional

• Vulnerability of clients
• Inequality of power
• Confidentiality
• Trust and knowledge
• Promise of help

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Take Away Messages. . .

• To be a professional is to make a promise to
  help, to keep that promise and to do so in the
  best interest of the patient.

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Take away messages. . .

• A true professional is an ordinary person called
  to extraordinary duties by the nature of the
  activities in which she has chosen to engage.

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Summary

• What do your informants say about the image of a
  professional?
• What do your informants say are occupations that
  qualify as professions?
• How do their responses inform you?
• Is nursing a profession? Justify your answer.