Is Nursing a Profession or an Occupation?

Question 1

3 MAJOR characteristics of a profession

Answer 1

1. ) service/altruism: calling/mission/responsibility to the public
2. ) specialized knowledge: skills and education in the field
3. ) autonomy: code of ethics

Question 2

8 characteristics of a profession

Answer 2

1. ) services provided are vital to humanity and the welfare of society: “caring”
2. ) There is a special body of knowledge that is continually enlarged through research: “evidence-based practice”
3. ) The services involve intellectual activities; individual responsibility (accountability) is a strong feature: “legal and ethical responsibilities”
4. ) Practitioners are educated in institutions of higher learning: “entry to practice”
5. ) Practitioners are relatively independent and control their own policies and activities (autonomy): “state board of nursing”, “magnet recognition”, “unions”.
6. ) Practitioners are motivated by service (altruism) and consider their work an important component of their lives
7. ) There is a code of ethics to guide the decisions and conduct of practitioners: American Nurses Association (ANA), Code of Ethics for Nurses (back cover of text)
8. ) There is an organization (association) that encourages and supports high standards of practice: American Nurse Association (ANA).

Question 3

3 important documents

Answer 3

1. ) Nursing’s social policy statement: the essence of the profession
2. ) nursing: scope and standards of practice
3. ) code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements

Question 4

Nursing’s social policy statement

Answer 4

• A contract with society

- framework delineating nursing’s obligation to society and those we serve

Question 5

The code of ethics for nursing

Answer 5

9 provisions
1-3 : Fundamental values and commitments of the nurse
4-6: Boundaries of duty and loyalty
7-9: Aspects of duties beyond individual patient encounters

Question 6

barriers to professionalism in nursing

Answer 6

Variability in nursing education
Gender issues
Historical influences
External conflicts
Internal conflicts