Nursing’s

Pathway to
Professionalism
 Chapter Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:

❑ Define the concept of professionalism &its importance.

❑ Explain the nursing’s pathway to professionalism.

❑ List the principles and points on professionalism.

❑ Explain core components of professionalism.

❑ Discuss barriers of professionalism in nursing

 Introduction
The development of professionalism in nursing is an ongoing process; there are
always new and changing areas in which to improve. In the workplace, nurse
professionals should self-reflect on their actions and integrate new, experience-
based knowledge into their daily practices. When it comes to education, advanced
nursing degree programs are an excellent way to provide additional avenues to
sharpenprofessional skills.
 Definition – Professionalism

❑ Professionalism is a set of values that are critical to elevating the quality of

patientcarewhileimprovingthemethods,standards,andjudgmentsthat guide
nursingpracticesevery day.
 Definition – Professionalism … Cont.

❑ Professionalism is a dynamic process whereby many occupations can

be observed to change certain crucialcharacteristics.

❑ Professionalism is the conducts, aims or qualities that characterize or mark a

profession or a professional person.

 Definitions – Professionalism … Cont.

Professionalism is the collection of attitudes and actions that suggests knowledge

and technical skills.
• Professional behavior in the workplace impacts the entire organization, affecting every
aspect of day-to-day operations and ultimately impacting the company's bottom line.

• Unprofessional behavior in the workplace affects the morale of the team as a whole.
 Importance of Professionalism
1. Ensures quality of patient care.

2. Use of best evidence in practice.

3. Competence and safety in a changing world.

4. Collegial working relationships with otherdisciplines.

5. Sharing limited resources.

 Importance of Professionalism … Cont.
6. Creates an atmosphere of improvement.

7. Increased job satisfaction to eliminate stress.

8. Personal growth not only in terms of job advancement, but also in dignity and pride in
one’swork.
 Nursing’s Pathway to Professionalism
1)Kelly’s criteria: She is an outstanding nurse writer, teacher, and influential
leader, writes eight characteristics of nursing profession.

2)Nursing’s social policy statement: the essence of the profession.

3) Scope and standard ofpractice.
4) Code of ethics fornurses.
 Characteristics of a Nursing Profession
(Kelly’s criteria)
1. Theservices provided are vital to humanity andthe welfare of society.
2. There is a special bodyof knowledge that is continually enlarged through research.
3. The services involve intellectual activities; individual responsibility (accountability) is
a strong feature.
4. Practitioners are educated in institutions of higher learning.
5. Practitioners are relatively independent and control their own policies and activities
(autonomy).
 Characteristics of a Nursing Profession
(Kelly’s criteria)
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 guidethe decisions andconduct of practitioners.
8. There is an organization (association) that encourages and supports high standards
of practice.
 Principles of Professionalism
1) Altruistic – it is the unselfish regard and devotion to the patient welfare.
2) Accountability and responsibility are required at many levels – individual patients, society and
the profession. Inherent in responsibility is reliability in completing assigned duties and
willingnesstoacceptresponsibilityfor errors.
3) Excellence – entails a conscientious effort to exceed ordinary expectations and commitment to
life-long learning. One must seek to learn from errors and aspire to excellence through self-
evaluationand acceptanceofthecritiquesofothers.
 Principles of Professionalism … Cont.
4.Duty – free acceptance of a commitment to a service that entails being available and responsive
“on call,” accepting inconvenience to meet patients’ need, enduring unavoidable risks and
advocatingthebestpossible care.
5.Honesty and integrity – consistent regard the highest standards of behavior, refusal to violate
one’s personal and professional codes, fairness, truthful, forthright in interactions with patients,
peers, andinall professional work.
6.Respect for others – the essence of humanism, and humanism is central to professionalism. It is
also a professional obligation to respect appropriate patient confidentiality.
 Points on Professionalism
Beethical
Beaccountable
Bemodel Becivil
Beavailable
Beresponsible Behonest
BeCollaborator
Beprepared Bebest
Beforgiving
Beconsistent
Becurrent
Becommunicator
 Points on Professionalism
• Beethical.Stand up for personal and professional standards. Dowhat is right, not whatis expected.
• Becivil. Treat people with respect you do not have to like or agree with a person to treat him as you
would want to betreated.
• Behonest.Beforthright, do not participate in gossip &humor.
• Bethebest.Strive to be better than good.
• Beconsistent.Behavior should coincide with values and beliefs.
 Points on Professionalism … Cont.
• Bea communicator. Invite ideas, opinions &feedback from patient andcolleagues.

• Beaccountable. Dowhat you will do. Take responsibility for your ownactions.

• Becollaborative. Workin participate with others for the benefits of patients.

• Beforgiving. Everyone makes mistakes, give people a fair chance.

• Becurrent. Keep knowledge &skills up to date.

 Points on Professionalism … Cont.
• Beinvolved. Beactive at local, state and national levels.

• Bea model.Whata person says and does reflect on his or her profession.
• Beresponsible for self. Take responsibility for your ownlearning needs &be assertive
making them knownto teachers &mentors.

• Beprepared. Doassignments for classes &prepare for labs &clinical in advance, brushing
up on skills if needed.
 Core Components of Nursing
Professionalism
(1) Cognitive– It focuses on the ability to continually learn about professional conduct and apply these in
worksettings. Nursesshoulddevelopthekeytoolstoprioritizeandmakedecisions effectively.
(2) Attitudinal – It involves the attitudes and ideas that guide nurses to perform their job duties and
advancethrough their careers, which must align with practical standards and goals of organizations.

(3) Psychomotor– It involves gaining clinical skills in the practice of nursing. This
componentobligate the nurses to implementprovenmethodsto bolster their self-
disciplineandself-learning skills.
 Core Components of Nursing
Professionalism … Cont.
(4) CareComesFirst–Communicationis key.Listento others,provideinformationandadvice clearly
so every patient can understand. Make well-informed decisions that are best for the patient. Do not
acceptgiftsfor preferential treatment.
(5) IndividualTreatment–Treatpatients andcolleaguesasindividuals withtheir
ownunique values, beliefs, and needs.
(6) RespectDignity –Protect patient privacy. Never give client information to an
unauthorized person, and preserve anonymity.
 Core Components of Nursing
Professionalism … Cont.
(7) WorkTogether–Cooperatewithteammembersandrespect their contributions.
(8) High Standards of Care – Be punctual. Acknowledge when a situation is beyond professional
scope.Don’tbe afraid to ask for help.
(9) Honesty and Integrity – Do not plagiarize coursework or professional assessments. Compile an
accurate CVto reflect your education and work experience. Always aspire to the highest levels of
personalandprofessional conduct.
(10) UpholdReputation–Beawarethat all actions evenoutsideofworkmayhaveconsequences.
 Barriers of Professionalism in Nursing
1. Varyingeducationallevelsforentryintopractice:Nootherprofessionallowsentryinto practice
at less than the bachelor level, yet nursing has three entry levels; BSN, AND, and diploma in
nursing, which is conferred by hospital-based nursing.

2. Gender: It plays a major role in the perceived value of female dominated profession such as
nursing,socialwork &teaching.

3. Negativeimageofnursing&its effecton professionalism

 Barriers of Professionalism in Nursing
1. Historical influences: Nursing historical connections with religious orders, and the military
continuetohaveinfluence,positiveand negative.

2. External conflicts: As nurses have became more highly educated and able to provide services
wereformerly part of medical practice, conflict with medicine have inevitable arisen.

3. Internal conflicts: Professional nursing power and influence is fragmented by subgroups and
dissention. Tensions among diploma , associate degree and bachelor degree – educated nurses
reduceviabilityofthe profession.
 Remember that …..
• People with high levels of professionalism are most frequently considered for
job advancement.

• Professionalism goes a long way in one’s personal career success as well as the
success of the organization.