Professional Identity Nursing

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Nurses have a significant responsibility in maintaining a clear division between their professional career and personal lives. The industry as a health professional requires persistent allegiance to the agreement that both professional lifestyle and personal lifestyle will be kept separate. Specific codes of practice within the nursing industry outline the standards and morals of what it means to be a health professional and how to maintain professional identity as a nurse. One of the main professional and quality agencies for nursing is The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The board provides a code of ethics, code of professional conduct, national competency standards and professional boundaries for nurses that are all easily accessible …show more content…

Professional identity is defined as an individual’s professional self-concept based on attributes, beliefs, values, motives and experiences. (Ibarra, 1999; Schein, 1978)
Professional identity in nursing is a framework classifying work in the social context used by professionals and demonstrates what it means to be a professional in the modern day health care practice. (http://concept.cf.ac.uk:8001/rid=1LXQWZC8G-1GCVP9X-3H1W/JAN%20Oslo%20prof%20identity%201997.pdf) The professional identity of a nurse focuses on learning about the essential components of the professional conduct. These components consist of the right professional attitude, knowledge about professional nursing standards and quality and safety in the workplace. http://handbook.uts.edu.au/subjects/92324.html. There are many contributing factors to having the right professional attitude of a nurse. Being a nurse requires constant enthusiasm and care for vulnerable patients who are injured or sick. To …show more content…

The professional boundaries in nursing are defined as limits, which protect the space between a professional’s power and the client’s vulnerability. When a nurse crosses this boundary, they are generally behaving in an unprofessional manner and misusing their power in the relationship. The guide to professional boundaries consists of a diagram representing a continuum of professional behaviour. This diagram provides a picture of therapeutic versus non-therapeutic behaviour in the relationship between a nurse and the patient. Additionally to this diagram is a list of guiding principles for safe, professional practice. These guiding principles consist of dual relationships and boundaries, access to or the disclosure of information, therapeutic and care relationships and gifts, services and financial relations. The purpose of these guidelines is to protect the community by helping to prevent distress, confusion, harm or abuse of people being cared for by nurses. It is intended this resource will encourage reflection, discussion and guide the decision making in all aspects of the relationship that is established when care is provided by nurses.

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