Nursing as a Profession
Nancy Atkins The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston as Health Science Center at Houston
Abstract The purpose of this article is to define the profession of nursing. I will also talk about history of nursing, characters of the nursing profession and steps of educational paths to become a professional nurse.
Key words: profession, history, education, Florence Nightingale, advantages, disadvantages.
According to Webster Dictionary, a profession is “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation”(Profession, n.d). By this definition, I would consider nursing as a profession. I see the profession of nursing
…show more content…
Nursing is a very rewarding career. There are chances to make a difference in life very day. Besides that, job security is a featured benefit of the nursing career. Nurses will always be a necessary part of the healthcare system, and hospitals are unable to function without large workforce like nursing staff. The profession of nursing also allows the nurse to choose his/her own specialty. Nursing has a phenomenal wide range of choices that one can choose. Nurses can choose to work in any of the many nursing fields available, and can also choose to become certified in a specialty of choice. There are opportunities for leadership, and many times nurses find their way into management, sometimes leading as officers in large healthcare companies. Many also become nurse practitioners and nurse educators. All of these positions can be achieved through higher education in such Master of nursing and Doctor of Nursing …show more content…
Nurses play a significant role in inspiring other nurses to embrace some of the qualities every nurse should ideally possess. In the end, it is important that these nurses participate in a cycle of motivation that encourages others to grow and learn within the profession.
Reference
Finkelman, A. & Kenner, C. (2014). Professional nursing concepts: Competencies for quality leadership (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Matney, S., Avant, K., Staggers, N. (2015). Toward an understanding of wisdom in nursing. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 21, No. 2. doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol21No01PPT02
Profession (n.d). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession
Selanders, L., Crane, P. (2012). The Voice of Florence Nightingale on advocacy. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 17, No. 1. doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No01Man01
Texas Board of Nursing. (2017). Nursing Practice Act, Nursing Peer Review Act, Nurse Licensure Compact, & Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/laws_and_rules_nursing_practice_act_2013.asp#Sec.301.002
Weatherford, D. (2010). The evolution of nursing. Retrieved from
The significance of this article is that nursing is continually changing. The role of the nurse will always be based on direct care giving, however, nursing as an occupation is professional.
My research paper is on the healthcare occupation, in particularly,the field of licensed practical nursing, also called licensed vocational nurses. In my paper, I will cover such things as the definition of career choice, certain requirements, the expected job duties and responsibilities, any additional licensure that is required. After discussing these topics, I will then point out the potential of finding a job, the ranges of salary, as well as the environment I would be working in. Finally, I will talk about the potential growth in this field and legal requirements. Now i will start with the definition of my career choice.
Define Nursing Nursing is a knowledge-based profession within the health care sector that focuses on the overall care of individuals. According to The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), “defines nurse practitioners as registered nurses who have received graduate-level nursing education and clinical training, which enables them to provide a wide range of preventative and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. They deliver high-quality, cost effective care, often performing physical examinations, ordering tests, making diagnoses, and prescribing and managing medication and therapies”. Nurse Practitioners are able to specialize in a particular area, such as family and adult practice, pediatrics, and women’s health; and refer patients to other specialists when necessary. Some nurse practitioners work under the supervision of a physician while others run their own practices.
There will always be a need for registered nurses in the medical industry, as nurses will always try to meet the health needs of individuals. The health industry in Canada is enormous and requires the aid of numerous amounts of nurses throughout the nation. This career requires patience and determination in order to be successful on the job. The career of a registered nurse will provide me with the satisfaction of knowing that I am able to assist an individual with the revitalization of their health. Furthermore, this paper will expatiate on the kind of industries that nurses work in including the type of sector, safety of job, as well as greatly focusing on the union that protects nurses especially in the City of Toronto. Also, the job position of a registered nurse demands specific qualifications like an education in nursing as well as long working hours. An issue that will be considered is the demand of nurses in Toronto, and if there will be a good chance of being able to find a nursing position upon graduation. Moreover, the career of a registered nurse will be examined in looking at the environment nurses work in and considering whether the work environment is safe and supportive of each employee. Most importantly, I will look at the overall aspects of the career of a registered nurse and how beneficial it will for me regarding financial aspects, social, and my ability to make a contribution in the healthcare industry. The career prospects of a registered nurse will be examined through the research of the health industry, details of job positions, and the economic and political aspects involving the job.
This is a research paper conducted on the very highly pursuited field of nursing. Nursing is a profession in the healthcare field that focuses or assisting others. Not to mention, nurses are heroes because of the many lives they save every day. This is an example that one doesn’t need tights or a cape to be a hero. Never the less, there are many reasons one may want to become nurse. Some of those reasons may be for personal gain or the greater good. However, before becoming a nurse one needs to be educated about educational requirements, licenses and certifications, projected salaries, and the projected job outlook for the next five – ten years for nursing. This research paper will provide thorough information on those four major aspects of
Nursing has always been a key career in the health care system. Although it is not often focused on media and stories surrounding health care, nursing is a career of great importance. If any patient was asked about their experience at a hospital or a care center, many would mention the capability and care that they received from the nurses. The health care system could not function efficiently, if at all, if nurses were not present to perform their part. Nurses are more than just physicians, support staff.
Nursing’s development from an occupation to a profession follows the devotion and sacrifice of many amazing women throughout history. Considered to be one of the oldest professions, women have performed what could be considered nursing duties since the beginning of time. Although there have been many events and many individuals who have contributed to nursing’s evolution from the occupation it was once considered to the profession that now exists, the development of formal education opportunities and scholarly resources and the women who created them is what fascinates me most. Without knowing, each of the following five women helped lay the groundwork for what Lucie Kelly, RN, PhD, FAAN, eventually termed the eight characteristics of a profession
Most people question whether to go into a career in the medical field, but what really drew my attention to the profession of a Registered Nurse is the fact that they help people in more than one place, they are higher up in the medical field, and they put in a lot of time and effort in to tending the needs of their patients. The profession of a registered nurse is one that requires us to care for the health of others.
Nursing is a balance of professional qualities like caring, ethics and competencies. Science and technology are weaved in to provide safe practices for now and in the future. In the following paragraphs; I define what a professional is in my opinion along with how I came to find myself in the nursing program, how research is important and the past and the future of nursing.
There is nothing comparable with the happiness of knowing my purpose in life. Nursing is a career where you can never stop evolving. Being a nurse gives me a sense of personal fulfillment that brings challenging experiences every day. It is a profession that demands zeal and the devotion to play an important role in health care.
Nursing is one of the oldest professions. It isn’t a static occupation, as it has changed frequently over time. Its development and evolution has changed differently depending on the historical influences. As of today the nursing profession is changing and becoming larger and greater. Nursing has gone from being a career that did not require an education, to being one that is very respected and demands a high education.
Nursing is a profession that prides itself in integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. True nursing revolves around service and commitment to the wellbeing of others, prevention of illness, and promotion of good health. I believe this is the hallmark of nursing.
Even though nursing is a difficult and demanding profession, it can be very rewarding and exciting. To become a nurse, one must have a degree in nursing, have taken the NCLEX, and be a friendly compassionate person. Most tasks a nurse does are care planning, administering medication, and documentation. Becoming a nurse has many benefits including impacting lives, job security, and a stable income. A person aspiring to become a nurse should consider the different requirements for the career, the typical tasks of the career, and the possible benefits of the career.
In the early Christian era nurses where deaconesses (women selected by the church with slight educational background). In the 16th Century nursing became a job consisting primarily of convicts and ill reputes, with no formal training (Egenes, no date). Today, nursing is a profession with a strong and specific/unique body of knowledge, ongoing research, and professional organizations that set standards (Taylor, 2015, p. 13). The three biggest influences on how nursing developed into a profession are: war, Florence Nightingale, and the ICN.
Nursing is a profession that blends the rich traditions of the past with the ever changing realities of today's health care industry. Nursing is not simply an assortment of special skills and the nurse is not simply a person proficient in performing these specific tasks. Nursing is a profession. I believe this statement to be true because of several factors. The Title 19 Code for Nurses is titled "Standards for Professional Nursing Practice". The status of nursing as a profession reflects the values that society places on the work of nurses and how central nursing is to the good of society. "By being a professional we imply that the person is conscientious in actions, knowledgeable in the subject and responsible to self and others." (Potter & Perry, 1993, p. 27)