Nursing as a Profession

AGUNG SETIYADI
MIDDLE EAST UNIVERSITY
WHAT IS NURSING ???
 NURSING DEFINED
“ Nursing is the unique function of the
nurse, that is to assist the individual (
sick or well ) in the performance of those
activities contributing to health or its
recovery ( or to a peaceful death) that
he would perform unaided if he had the
necessary strength, will or knowledge “
- ICN-
 NURSING DEFINED
“Nursing is the protection, promotion
and optimization of health and abilities,
prevention of illness and injury,
alleviation of suffering through the
diagnosis and treatment of human
response and advocacy in the care of
individuals, families, communities and
population.”
-ANA-
HISTORY OF NURSING
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
PROFESSION

 EDUCATION
 BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
 SPECIFIC SERVICE
 AUTONOMY
 CODE OF ETHICS
 CRITERIA OF PROFESSION
 Specialized education
 Body of knowledge
 Service Orientation
 Ongoing Research
 Code of Ethics
 Autonomy
 Professional organizations
 NURSING CODE OF ETHICS
 A code of ethics is a formal statement of a groups
ideals and values.
 It is a set of ethical principles that
 Is shared by members of the group
 Reflects their moral judgements over time
 Serves as a standard for their professional actions.
 NURSING CODE OF ETHICS
An international code of ethics for nurses was first
adopted by the International Council of Nurses
(ICN) in 1953.
1. NURSES AND PEOPLE
2. NURSES AND PRACTICE
3. NURSES AND THE PROFESSION
4. NURSES AND CO- WORKES
 THE ICN CODE OF ETHICS
1. NURSES AND PEOPLE
The nurse’s primary professional responsibility
is to people requiring nursing care. In providing
care, the nurse promotes an environment in
which the human right, values, customs and
spiritual beliefs of the individual, family and
community are respected. The nurse ensures
that the individual receives sufficient information
on which to base consent for care and related
treatment. The nurse hold in confidence
personal information and uses judgement in
sharing this information.
 THE ICN CODE OF ETHICS
2. NURSES AND PRACTICE
The nurse carries personal responsibility and
accountability for nursing practice, and for
maintaining competence by continual learning.
The nurse maintains a standard of personal
health such that the ability to provide care is not
compromised. The nurse uses judgement
regarding individual competence when
accepting and delegating responsibility. The
nurse at all times maintains standards of
personal conduct which reflect well on the
profession and enhance public confidence. The
nurse, in providing care, ensures that use of
technology and scientific advances are
compatible with the safety, dignity and rights of
 THE ICN CODE OF ETHICS
3. NURSES AND THE PROFESSION
The nurses assumes the major role in
determining and implementing acceptable
standards of clinical nursing practice,
management, research, and education. The
nurse is active in developing a core of research-
based professional organization, participates in
creating and maintaining safe. Equitable social
and economic working conditions in nursing.
 THE ICN CODE OF ETHICS
4. NURSES AND CO-WORKERS
The nurse sustains a cooperative relationship
with co- workers in nursing and other fields. The
nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard
individuals, families and communities when their
health is endangered by a co-worker or any other
person.
 CODES OF PROFESSIONAL
CONDUCT FOR NURSES:
1. Professional responsibility and accountability
2. Nursing practice
3. Communication and interpersonal relationship
4. Valuing human being
5. Management
6. Professional advancement
 AUTONOMY
Autonomy means that individuals are able to act
for themselves to the level of their capacity. It is
the right of individuals, governing their actions
according to their own purpose and reason.

Professional Nurse Autonomy is defined as belief

in the centrality of the client when making
responsible discretionary decisions, both
independently and interdependently, that reflect
advocacy for the client.
 ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability is being responsible for ones
actions and accepting the consequences of one’s
behaviour.

Accountable to whom ????

 Your patients, through a duty of care
 Your employer, as defined by your contract of
employment and jod description
 Your profession, as stated in the relevant codes
of conduct
 The public
 ACCOUNTABILITY OF NURSING
PERSONNEL
Nurses are accountable for :
 Providing safe and therapeutic environment for the
patients.
 Delivering component and personalized care.
 Maintaining adequate supplies of materials and
equipments for smooth functioning of ward.
 Maintaining accurate and up to date records and
report.
 Protecting client’s legal rights and privacy.
 Maintaining good interpersonal relationships.
 Working within ethical and legal boundaries.
 Delegating responsibility appropriately
 Contributing to the development of profession.
 ASSERTIVENESS
 Assertiveness is a style of behaviour to interact
with people while standing up for your rights. It is
a tool for expressing ourselves confidently and a
way of saying yes and no in an appropriate way.
 Benefits :
1. Helps to create healthy and meaningful relations.
2. Less friction and conflicts.
3. Enhances the self esteem.
4. Increases the productivity.
5. Improves emotional and physical health.
6. Lessen the stress at work.
 TECHNIQUES FOR BEING
ASSERTIVE
 Identify the personal needs, wants and rights.
 Identify the situation.
 Always be direct.
 Own the message promptly.
 Avoid assumptions about others feelings.
 Ask for feedbacks.
 Stop apologising all the time.
 Learn to take a compliment.
 Evaluate your expectation.
 Act confident in all situations.
 Feel free to say no according to situation.
 VISIBILITY
 The word visibility means capacity of providing a
clear unobstructed view. Although nurses
comprise the majority of healthcare professionals,
they are largely invisible. The public views of
nursing and nurses are typically based on
personal experiences with nurses, which can lead
to a narrow view of a nurse often based only on a
brief personal experience. Profession needs to be
more concerned about visibility because nursing
is struggling to attract qualified students and keep
current nurses in practice.
 STEPS TO IMPROVE THE
VISIBILITY
 Nurses Week is used as an opportunity to
recognize nurses in practice and to advertise the
profession of nursing, increasing its visibility and
portraying a positive image. During Nurses’
Week, healthcare organizations typical hold
special celebrations to honour nurses, and
announce via the media.
 Give out awards for leadership and other
accomplishments in nursing.
 Uphold the professional dignity.
 Ensure active participation in society, i.e. by
involvement through rescue mission in natural
calamities like flood, storm, tsunami, volcanoes,
etc.
 REFERENCE
 Stanley, Joan. Advanced practice nursing Edition
2. F.A Davis Company : Philadelphia . 2005.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale
 http://www.icn.ch/who-we-are/code-of-ethics-for-
nurses/
 http://www.nursingworld.org/what-is-nursing