FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

Institute of Nursing

FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING

Module: Overview: Fundamentals of Nursing- Nursing as a Profession

Introduction:
This course provides the students with the overview of nursing as a science, an art, and a profession. It deals
with the concept of man as a holistic being comprised of bio- psycho- socio and spiritual dimensions. It
includes a discussion on the different roles of a nurse emphasizing health promotion, maintenance of health as
well as prevention of illness utilizing the nursing process. It includes the basic nursing skills needed in the care
of individual clients.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, the student will be able to

1. Describe the different types of educational programs for nurses.
2. Explain the importance of continuing nursing education.
3. Describe how the definition of nursing has evolved since Florence Nightingale
4. Identify the four major areas of nursing practice
5. Identify the purposes of nurse practice acts and standards of professional nursing practice.

Topic Outline:
• Definition
- Profession
- Nursing
- Nursing as Profession
• Characteristics of Profession
• Common Themes of Nursing
• Fundamental’s pattern of knowing Nursing
• Characteristics of a Nurse
• Role and Responsibilities of a Professional Nurse
Summary of Content

Nursing
• the act of utilizing the environment of the patient to assist him in his recovery” (F. Nightingale)

• The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of
those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform
unaided if he had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge, and to do this in such a way as to
help him gain independence as rapidly as possible” (V. Henderson)

• “Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, preventions 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 populations” (ANA 2010)

• Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families,
groups, and communities, sick or well and in all settings. It includes the promotion of health, the
prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. (WHO)

• Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families,
and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life.
(Wikipedia)

Nursing is an art and a science (Potter & Perry)

• A professional nurse delivers care artfully with compassion, caring, and respect for each patient’s
dignity and personhood.

• As a science, nursing practice is based on a body of knowledge that is continually changing with
new discoveries and innovations. When you integrate the science and art of nursing into your
practice, the quality of care you provide to your patients is at a level of excellence that benefits
patients and their families.
Nurse

▪ Comes from a Latin word “to nourish” or “to cherish”

▪ One who cares for the sick, the injured and the physically, mentally, and emotionally disabled
▪ One who advised, instruct individuals, families, groups and communities, in the prevention,
treatment of illness and diseases and promotion of health
▪ Essential member of health team, who cares for individuals, families and communities in disease
prevention and promotion of health and healthy environment

Elements of Nursing
1. Accountability- service involves intellectual activities, individual responsibilities
2. Autonomy- practitioners are relatively independent and control their own policies and activities
3. Altruism- practitioner are motivated by service and consider their work as important component
of their lives
4. Association- there is an organization that encourages and supports high standards of practice
Recipient of Nursing

• Consumer- an individual, a group of people, or a community that uses a service or commodity.

• Consumer of health care- people who use healthcare products or services.
• Patient- an individual who is waiting for undergoing medical treatment and care. The word
patient comes from Latin word meaning “to suffer” or “to bear”
• Client- an individual who engages the advice or services of another who is qualified to provide
this service. Client presents the receivers of healthcare as collaborators in the care, as people who
are also responsible for their own health.

Scope of Nursing
- Nurses provide care for three types of clients: individuals, families, and community

Four areas of Nursing Practice

1. Promoting Health and Wellness
- Nurses promote wellness in clients who are both healthy and ill. It involves individual and
community activities to enhance healthy lifestyles.
2. Preventing Illness
- Goal of illness prevention programs is to maintain health by preventing disease.
3. Restoring Health
- Focuses on the ill client, extends from early detection of disease through helping the client
during the recovery period.
4. Caring for the Dying
- Involves comforting and caring for people of all ages who are dying. Goal is to improve the
quality of life for both the client and the family.

Settings for Nursing

- Acute care hospital
- Community agencies
- Ambulatory clinics
- Long term care facilities
- Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- Nursing practice centers.
Degrees of nursing autonomy and nursing responsibility
- Provide direct care
- Teach and support clients
- Serve as nursing advocates
- Agents of change
- Help determine health policies affecting consumers in community and hospitals

Nursing Practice Acts

Purpose: To protect the public

ANA Standard of Professional Performance describe behaviors expected in the professional nursing
role.
Roles and Functions of the Nurse

1. Caregiver- included those activities that assist the client physically and psychologically while
preserving the client’s dignity. Required nursing actions involves full care for the completely
dependent client, partial care for the partially dependent client and supportive educative care to
assist clients in attaining their highest possible level of health and wellness.
2. Communicator- nurses communicate with the client, support individuals, other health
professionals, and people in the community.
3. Teacher- nurse helps client to learn about their health and the healthcare procedures they need to
perform to restore or maintain their health.
4. Client Advocate- acts to protect. Nurses assist clients in exercising their rights and help them
speak up for themselves.
5. Counselor- the process of helping a client to recognize and cope with stressful psychologic or
social problems, to develop improved interpersonal relationships, and to promote personal
growth.
6. Change Agent- nurse acts as a change agent when assisting clients to make modifications in their
behavior.
7. Leader- nurse acts a s a leader when she influences others to work together to accomplish a
specific goal.
8. Manager- nurse manages the nursing care of individuals, families, and communities.
9. Case Manager- nurse case managers work with the multidisciplinary health care team to measure
the effectiveness of the case management plan and to monitor outcomes.
10. Research Consumer- nurses often use research to improve client care.

Benner (2001)- describe the development of professional expertise with the five levels of proficiency.

Benner’s Stages of Nursing Expertise

1. Stage I: Novice- no experience. Performance is limited, inflexible and governed by rules and
regulations rather than experience.
2. Stage II: Advanced Beginner- demonstrate marginally acceptable performance. Has experienced
enough real situations to make judgements.
3. Stage III: Competent- has 2 or 3 years of experience. Demonstrates organizational and planning
abilities.
4. Stage IV: Proficient- has 3 to 5 years’ experience. Perceives situation as wholes rather than in
terms. Has a holistic understanding of the client, which improves decision making. Focuses on long
term goals.
5. Stage V: Expert- performance is fluid, flexible, and highly proficient; no longer requires rules,
guidelines or maxims to connect an understanding of the situation to appropriate action.
Profession

➢ an occupation that requires extensive education or a calling that requires special knowledge,
skill, and preparation.
➢ (a) its requirement of prolonged, specialized training to acquire a body of knowledge pertinent
to the role to be performed; (b) an orientation of the individual toward service, either to a
community or to an organization; (c) ongoing research; (d) a code of ethics; (e) autonomy; and
(f) a professional organization.
➢ Two terms related to profession
- Professionalism
- Professionalization

Primary Characteristics:

1. Specialized Education
- is an important aspect of professional status. In modern times, the trend in education for
the professions has shifted toward programs in colleges and universities.
Example: Clinical Nurse Specialist - A nurse who has an advanced degree or expertise
and is an expert in a specialized area of practice (e.g., gerontology, oncology).

2. Body of knowledge- A number of nursing conceptual frameworks contribute to the

knowledge base of nursing and give direction to nursing practice,
education, and on- going research.

3. Service Orientation- Many consider altruism (selfless concern for others) the hallmark of a
profession. Nursing has a tradition of service to others.

4. Autonomy- A profession is autonomous if it regulates itself and sets standards for its members.

5. Code of Ethics- Nurses have traditionally placed a high value on the worth and dignity of others.

6. Ongoing Research- Increasing research in nursing is contributing to nursing practice.

7. Professional Organization- The ANA is a professional organization that “advances the nursing
profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting
the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic.
 Reference:

Kozier & Erb’s, Fundamental of Nursing 11th Edition.

Prepared by:

Prof. Vilma S. Vasquez, MAN, RN, RM vvasquez@feu.edu.ph