Question

A group of nursing students is sitting in the cafeteria between classes. Nearby, a group of education students discusses how the field of education is a true profession as opposed to nursing, which one of the students describes as a field in which "nurses think just because they say they're professionals, they automatically become professionals." One of the other students adds, "Nurses work shifts, they are paid on an hourly basis, they can't decide on the level of education for entry, and they have an organization for everything. How does that make nursing a profession?" The nursing students discuss how to address the issue in a constructive manner. During the conversation, one of the nursing students questions the professionalism of nursing, asking, "Is that true? Is that how the public views nursing? Do they see us as a group that can't make up our minds or that we are just fooling ourselves about being a profession?"

1. Create an argument for nursing as a profession based on Pavalko's eight dimensions for describing a profession.
2. Why would having multiple types and areas of nursing organizations benefit the nursing profession? Does it help or hinder the profession?
3. How could the nursing students explain how nursing organizations further nursing as a profession?
4. Describe the benefits of obtaining credentials in a chosen specialty. How does this affect professionalism in nursing?

Answer 1

ACCORDING TO PAVLKO'S EIGHT DIMENSIONS , NURSING AS A PROFESSION HAS

1. EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PERIOD.
2. RELATED TO SOCIAL VALUES.
3. INVOLVES SELF-MOTIVATION TO SERVE THE CLIENT OR FAMILY OR THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
4. POSSESS ETHICAL CODES.
5. HAS A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT TOWARDS THE WORK.
6. THERE IS INVOLVEMENT OF THE MEMBERS IN THE PROFESSION.
7. THE PRACISE OF THE PROFESSION IS BASED ON A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK.
8. ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION HAVE COMMON IDENTITY BUT DIFFERENT SUBCULTURE.

THE NURSING HAS ALL THESE CHARACTERISTICS AND HENCE CAN BE REGARDED AS A PROFESSION.

BENEFITS OF MULTIPLE ARES OF NURSING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NURSING PROFESSIONS:

• AS THERE IS INCREASED NEED OF KNOWLEDGE UPDATION IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE NURSES TO HAVE CONTINUING EDUCATION, OPPORTUNITIES OF CERTIFICATION ,COMPETENCIES IN THE DIFFERENT ROLES IN THEIR CAREER AND ATTENDING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES WHICH IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE MEMBERSHIP IN THE NURSING ORGANIZATIONS.
• IT FORMS AN IMPORTANT PLATFORM FOR CAREER ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE.
• IT PROMOTES EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES.
• PROVISION OF NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE ONLINE FORUMS, ANNUAL CONVENTION,AND LOCAL MEETINGS .

NURSING ORGANIZATIONS ARE OF GREAT HELP AND SUPPORT TO THE NURSING PROFESSION WHICH REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE OF THE CURRENT EVENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE AND ALSO PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES DEPENDING ON THEIR CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING IN THEIR ROLES.

BENEFITS OF OBTAINING CREDENTIALS IN A CHOSEN SPECIALITY :

• IT REFLECTS AND CERTIFIES THE EFFICIENCY, EXPERIENCE, CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE CHOSEN SPECIALITY.
• IT HELPS IN IDENTIFYING PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE CAREER.
• IT FORMS A STEP FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION.
• IT IMPROVES THE FEELING OF EMPOWERMENT.