What is a profession?

It is defined as a calling or a
vocation requiring an intensive
and specialized education in the
field of science or the liberal arts
and has a specialized training.
Websters, 1999

A calling, vocation or undertaking in

which its members should have
acquired specific and distinct values,
knowledge, training or by experience
so that they may competently utilize it
in the service of others.

Any undertaking in which a

person, whom for a fee or free,
provides a distinctive service
using scientific and specialized
body of knowledge and skills.

NURSING IS A PROFESSION
Characteristics of a Profession as
Applied in Nursing Practice?

1. Mastery of craft
Requires well-defined skills
continuously and exclusively
performed.

Example:
A nurse must utilize
knowledgeably and exclusively
the nursing process in dealing
with different assessed
problems of his/her patients.
The use of the nursing process
is for safe and effective care of
every patient assigned to a
nurse. The nursing process is
an example of a professional
task requiring mastery.

2. Accountability
Being liable for any resulting acts or
conduct based on his professional
decisions implemented, committed or
performed.

Example:
Nurse Amor failed to properly compute the
appropriate dose of a certain drug to
her patient as ordered by the
physician. As a result, the patients
condition worsened over the day and
later died. Amor, as a professional
nurse shall be liable for the death of
her patient because of her failure to
observe due diligence in providing
care. In cases of negligence and
malpractice, the license to practice by
a nurse can be suspended or revoke
based on the outcome of the
investigation by an appropriate
committee. Aside from possible
administrative case in relation with her
license to practice, a criminal case can
also be filed against her as a result of
her negligent conduct.

3. Competence
Refers to the possession of
required skills, knowledge
and capacity in providing
safe care to patients.
These skills are acquired
through theoretical and
related learning in school
and hospital exposures.
It should be applied at all
times when a nurse is
actively practicing her
profession.

Example:
Nurse Rizzi, who just
passed the nurse
licensure examination
should not immediately
perform venipuncture
procedure without proper
attendance in any
training/certification
program for IV therapy
under an accredited
institution.

4. Caring profession
Nursing requires diligent efforts in
caring for any client, both sick
and well. It is the only
profession wherein, monetary
consideration is not the
primary reason in providing
care, but most of all, service to
humanity.
Nurses are supposed to have a
truly caring attitude for all her
clients regardless of their
economic or social status.

5. Ethical
Being equipped with the morality
of human conduct, values and
standards. It is the rightness
and the wrongfulness of
human action.

Example:
Nurse Jennifer, should not advice
her 16 year old patient to
undergo illegal abortion if the
reason to abort the fetus is
only to conceal the pregnancy
to the latters parents. The
nurse cannot also recommend
any person who knows how to
perform illegal abortion.
Otherwise, the nurse can be
criminally liable as an
accomplice to an abortion.

Ethical issues also involve the duty of the

nurse to be an advocate for her patients
in respect of the patients bill of rights.
Issues on privacy and confidentiality are
also taken into consideration in becoming
an ethical nurse. In all situations, the
actions of a professional nurse should be
guided by the Nurses Code of Ethics.

6. Service oriented
The main goal of
professional nursing
practice is to deliver
optimum level of health
for all, both sick and the
well, regardless whether
capable of payment or an
indigent, as the essence
of the phrase nursing is
service to others.

The nursing profession is

totally incomparable to
any business or
enterprise wherein the
first consideration is
money or profit. Profit or
gain is not the reason for
practice of nursing
profession but to
contribute in the
promotion of health and
function of every human
being.

7. Professional Relationship with His

Patients and Other Members of the Health
Care Team
Nurses must have a patientcentered behavior.
Such behavior is focused on
solving patients assessed
problems and needs.
Care should be holistic and
professional nurses must
provide disciplined care
through active and
continuous collaboration
with other members of the
health care team.

8. Autonomy and Altruism

Profession grants authority and
independence to nurse
practitioners to perform
specific professional functions.
Although our profession
grants autonomy, such must
still be regulated and should
adhere with the existing
nursing laws, Code of Ethics,
policies and guidelines.

Failure of the nurse to comply

would expose her to possible
professional liabilities. It is
also the duty of a nurse to be
ever mindful of the conduct of
his colleagues and other
members of the health care
team. She has the
responsibility to look at the
conduct and demeanor of
other health providers to see to
it that tasks are properly
carried out and patients are
properly protected.

9. Adheres to A Common
Code of Ethics

Nursing as a Profession:
An occupation or vocation, to that matter, with
a unique body of knowledge, attitude and
skills acquired through advanced training and
experience in order to provide specialized
services and various care for others.

What is Professional Nursing?

It is the performance, for a fee or a salary, of
professional services such as undertaking responsible
nursing care, the observation of symptoms, accurate
reporting and recording, supervision of others,
execution of nursing procedures and execution of valid
doctors orders.

PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002,

RA 9173 (Philippine Nursing Act of 1991,
RA 7164)
ARTICLE VI
Section 28.
Scope of Nursing
Sec. 28. Scope of Nursing A person shall be deemed to be practicing
nursing within the meaning of this Act when he/she singly or in collaboration
with another, initiates and performs nursing services to individuals, families
and communities in any health care setting. g

Nurses performs versatile roles and functions.

It includes, but is not limited

to, nursing care during
conception, labor,
delivery, infancy,
childhood, toddler, preschool, school age,
adolescence, adulthood
and old age. As
independent practitioners,
nurses are primarily
responsible for the
promotion of health and
prevention of illness.