Professional Identity
Personal Identity
Nursing is a rewarding and stressful career. After graduating from high school, I never thought about being a nurse. I wanted to teach but found that teaching children and teenagers was not my style. While trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life I became a certified nurse assistant in a nursing home. After only a few weeks of taking care of and helping people, I realized that it was something that I loved. Therefore, I decided to go back to college and become a registered nurse. I recognized that I could teach patients whether they were sick or well, and help them to better their lives. It was then I truly became interested in becoming a nurse.
I think Florence Nightingale said it best, " The very first requirement in a viagra cialis online pharmacy pharmacy is that it should do the sick no harm" (Lewis, 2010). As nurses, we need to focus on and carry out all that is necessary to help the sick. Nursing is caring for and teaching people of all ages, sexes, and racial groups. Nursing is both an independent profession as well as a team profession. Nurses are professionals who follow a code of ethical standards. It is important to look at our own philosophy of nursing and our own professional identity. As a professional, we need to be aware of our career goals and work to help improve both the nursing field and ourselves. This paper will evaluate my own philosophy of nursing, my professional status and definitions of professionalism in nursing through analysis of my evaluation and literature review.
Philosophy of Nursing
"A philosophy of nursing presents a particular professional nurse's belief system or worldview of nursing" (Kearney-Nunnery, 2008, p. 11). This statement is so true. Each nurse needs to evaluate and be aware of his or her own beliefs and view of nursing. It is important to evaluate our nursing philosophy so we know what we expect out of our career and why we are nurses. We need to be aware of our own belief system and view of the nursing profession.
I take care of men and women between the age of 18 and infinity with cardiac issues. I take care of these people in the hospital setting. The hospital environment increases stress for the patients and some patients can become confused in the hospital. A new environment, different medications, and many people coming in and out of their rooms can increase stress and confusion. To many patients health is just being well enough so they are not in the hospital. Health to me is being free of disease. These patients need me to care for them. I help them recover from heart attacks, heart failure, and open-heart surgery. Nursing to me is making sure that the patients attain, maintain, and recover to optimal health and functioning. People are a group of human beings needing nurses to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate their care. Nurses demonstrate emotional stability. We are caring, empathetic, and concerned for the health and well-being of our patients. Nurses in the current health-care system need to be detail-oriented, adaptable, have good judgment skills, excellent communication skills, and have superior critical thinking skills. As nurses, we are teachers, emotional supporters, caregivers, and sometimes the ones who keep the patient alive. What is unique about nurses is that we give care without judgment. No matter what the illness, disease, religion, or culture we care for everyone and never judge him or her on his or her choices.
I believe I am a caring and ethical nurse. I do not judge any person and care for everyone as if he or she were my family. I am there to make sure the patients receive the best possible care. I help each patient get to their optimal health and functioning. Not only am I there for the patients but in times of need I am there to support the family. I hold hands, pray, and cry with patients and their families if that is what they need me to do to get them through rough times.
As nurses, we all need to look at and evaluate our personal philosophy of nursing. We cannot begin to care for others if we do not know what we believe is our part in their care. I think Kearney-Nunnery put it best:
"Assisting 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" (2008, p. 11).
Professional Status
According to Miller, Adams, and Beck there are nine characteristics of professional nursing. "Educational background, adherence to the code of ethics, participation in the professional organization, continuing education and competency, communication and publication, autonomy and self regulation, community service, use, development, and evaluation of theory and research involvement" (Kearney-Nunnery, 2008, p. 7). I think professionalism comes with time, experience, and being active in the nursing community. Our professionalism is always improving. The more experience we get, the more involved we get and the more we learn constantly advances our professionalism.
I graduated in 1999 from Southern Vermont College in Bennington, Vermont. I received an Associate Degree in Science and Nursing. This program is approved by the Vermont State Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. The best part of this school and there nursing program is that it is small. I never had a class with more than 25 students. My nursing program started with 30 students and graduated 20. The small size allowed us to get close with each other and the professors. By the time we graduated, we were a family. In 2005, I became ANCC Medical-Surgical Certified. I just renewed that certification in 2010. I am currently attending UNCW to get my BSN. After successful completion of the BSN program, I am hoping to go on and get my MSN. I think I will specialize in education.
I am very aware of and use the ANA Code of Ethics. I am currently not involved in any professional organizations. I do about 30 hours of continuing education credit a year. We need 15 hours for our North Carolina Board of Nursing renewal. My hospital requires 16 a year and I need 150 hours every 5 years for my certification. I enjoy the continuing education credits because it keeps me current on issues and changes in cardiology as well as medical-surgical areas. I subscribe to Nursing 2010 magazine and enjoy receiving and reading it every month. I have limited exposure to discussion groups, on-line chats, institutional committees, and professional practice committees. I currently am a charge nurse on my unit. This allows me to help other staff with critical issues and help with staffing and patient assignments. I participate yearly in the MS walk at Greenfield Lake and twice yearly raise money for St. Jude's Children Hospital. I use theory in my nursing practice and critically analysis my patients, their health status, their care, and environment.
My strengths are that I am currently continuing my education for my Bachelors degree. I also am an active charge nurse, I do many continuing education credits, and I am a medical-certified nurse. I do some volunteer and community activities but could get involved in more. I need to join a professional organization and get involved in my unit based practice counsel. In addition, I need to get involved in research and publish an article.
Proposed Definition of Professionalism in Nursing
Through literature, we find many different definitions of professionalism and while some overlap many have different thoughts and ideas on what professionalism is. I think that each nurse needs to decide what professionalism is to him or her. It could be broad or a very narrow set of expectations but each one of us needs to know what our professionalism is to make nursing the best it can be.
1
According to Pinkerton (2001) there are six characteristics used to assess if a job is a profession. They are education, having a code of ethics, receiving compensation equal to the work, organization, autonomy, and being licensed (Pinkerton, 2001). She talks about how many of these qualities have been around a long time. Professional nursing organizations have been around since beginning of the 20th century. Licensing has been in all states since 1923. The code of ethics started back in the early 1900's. Research, theory, publications, and school accreditation have all added to the growth of nursing professionalism (Pinkerton, 2001).
2
Servodidio (2008) says there are things nurses can do to enhance their professionalism.
· Arrive to work on time, and be clean, neat, and ready to work.
· Maintain open communication, and help to create an atmosphere where team members can openly express their opinions without criticizing one another.
· When sending e-mail, be brief, be bright, and be gone.
· If you are in a leadership position, empower others and take people with you for achieving departmental and/or organizational goals.
· If you work in nursing education, develop healthcare curricula that include interdisciplinary learning opportunities that enhance professionalism.
· Be mindful of what you say.
· Be self-sufficient (Servodidio, 2008).
3
Kearney-Nunnery (2008) states there are eleven ways to improve professionalism:
· Invest and value nursing to improve patient safety and quality of care.
· Separate personal from professional problems.
· Leave personal problems at home.
· Present a positive image of the nursing profession.
· Be a model for work ethics.
· Model professionalism on and off the job.
· Prohibit non-RNs from doing RN work.
· Be a peacemaker.
· Create team spirit.
· Be proud to be a Registered Nurse!
· Participate in professional organizations (Kearney-Nunnery, 2008, p. 9).
4.
LaSala and Nelson (2005) believe that, "appearance, behavior, dress, and communication skills play an important role in the image that a nurse projects"(LaSala and Nelson, 2005). They talk about the importance of first impressions and that they convey a powerful meaning to those we work with and care for. They feel professional appearance and professional behavior are key components to ones professionalism.
5.
In Guerrieri's article, she talks about the importance of professional associations and professionalism. "Belonging to a professional nursing organization brings increased professionalism, autonomy, and self-regulation while offering additional benefits such as social interactions and peer support (Guerrieri, 2010). She states that professional nursing organizations let you interact with colleagues. This offers us:
· Deeper respect for how individuals choose to live their lives
· Increased recognition of the ties that bind patients to their family, community, ethnic group, and the world at large
· Greater appreciation for the intrinsic value of certain work habits such as efficiency, integrity, advocacy, love of learning, and teamwork (Guerrieri, 2010).
Professionalism to me is being self-confident, passionate, empathetic, and caring. To be timely, neat, educated and constantly learning more. Professionalism is having conduct that is of the highest standards. Professionals need to follow the nursing code of ethics. Components of professionalism to me are:
· Active licensure
· Positive attitude
· Empathetic, passionate, and ethical
· Timely and neat appearance
· Continuing education
· Organization and autonomy
· Participate in professional organization
Implications for Career Plan/Conclusion
After reviewing many articles about professionalism and reading the textbook, I realized many people have a different idea of what professionalism is. I took a good look at my idea of professionalism and found areas where I need to put more focus. I need to get involved in a professional organization as well as my unit based practice counsel. I need to look into doing research and publishing. The more involved we are the better nurses we become. I plan to keep my certification current because I feel it is a good reflection on my professionalism. I am going to obtain my BSN and go on for my Masters.
In conclusion, there are many ideas and thoughts of practice on what professionalism is. Through the textbook and articles I read I was able to figure out what my idea of professionalism is. I am able to understand what my goals are, where I need to put more focus, and what I am doing right. I believe all professionals need to take the time to do a realistic evaluation of what professionalism is to them.
References
Guerrieri, R. (2010). Professional Growth: Learn, grow, and bloom by joining a professional association. Nursing 2010, 40(5), 47-48.
Kearney-Nunnery, R. (2008). Advancing Your Career: Concepts of Professional Nursing (DavisPlus) (4 Ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.
LaSala, K., & Nelson, J. (2005). What Contributes to Professionalism? MedSurg Nursing, 14(1), 63-67.
Lewis, J. J. (n.d.). Florence Nightingale Quotes. Women's History - Comprehensive Women's History Research Guide. Retrieved October 12, 2010, from http://womenshistory.about.com.
Pinkerton, S. (2001). The Future of Professionalism in Nursing. Nursing Economics, 19(3), 130- 131.
Servodidio, C. (2008, April). Maintain Professionalism in Your Daily Nursing Practice. ONS Connect, 1, 19.