Funda

• Profession


  Organization of occupational work and application of special knowledge which establishes own rules and standards
• Profession


  • Quality of work done by its members is of greater importance than economic rewards
  • Serves all of society, not specific interests
  • Aims are altruistic, not materialistic
• Characteristics and Attributes of a Professional Person


  • Concerned with quality
  • Possesses competence in practice of profession in terms of scientific knowledge, skills and attitude
  • Self-directed, responsible, and accountable for actions
  • Able to make independent and sound judgment including high moral judgment
  • Dedicated to the improvement of human life
  • Committed to the spirit of inquiry
• Characteristics of a Profession


  • Specialized Education
  • Theory / Body of Knowledge, Ongoing Research
  • Service Orientation
  • Autonomy (Professional Organization)
  • Code of Ethics
  • Caring
• Flexner's Criteria for a Profession

  • Professions are basically intellectual
  • Professions are based on a specific body of knowledge that can be learned
  • Professions are practical as well as theoretical
  • Professional work can be taught through professional education
  • Professions have strong internal organization
  • Practitioners are guided by altruism
• Professional Nursing


  An art and science, dominated by an ideal of service in which certain principles are applied in the skillful care of the well and ill, and through relationships with the client/patient, significant others, and other members of the health care team
• Professional Nurse


  One who has acquired the art and science of nursing through basic education, who interprets their role in nursing in terms of the social ends for which it exists—the health and welfare of society, and who continues to add to their knowledge, skills, and attitudes through continuing education and scientific inquiry (research) or the use of the results of such inquiry (evidence-based practice)
• Professional Qualities of a Nurse

  • Has faith in the fundamental values that underlie the democratic way of life
  • Respect for human dignity
  • Self-sacrifice for the common good
  • Strong sense of responsibility for sharing in the solutions of the problems of society
  • Has a sense of responsibility for understanding those with whom he/she works or associates with
  • Utilizing relevant basic concepts of psychology
  • Working effectively through therapeutic relationship
• Character


  The nurse is basically a good person
• Virtues of Character


  • Justice
  • Prudence
  • Fortitude
  • Temperance
• Attributes of Character


  • Honesty
  • Loyalty
  • Tolerance
  • Judgment
  • Reliability
  • Motivation
  • Resourcefulness
  • Moderation
• Honesty


  Being truthful, trustworthy and upright in one's dealings with others as well as refraining from lying, cheating, and stealing
• Loyalty


  The feeling of confidence, trust, and affection towards family, friends, and those who have helped and guided you
• Tolerance


  Recognizing the rights of others and respecting and accepting them as fellow human beings
• Judgment


  The ability to use one's intellectual capacity to form sound opinions
• Reliability


  Dependability and the use of sound judgment based on careful observation and understanding of a situation
• Motivation


  Something that moves one to plan and accomplish specific things; a positive force that directs one's personal actions to the fulfillment of desires or drives
• Resourcefulness


  The ability to recognize and deal promptly and effectively with difficulties or problems that arise
• Moderation


  Maintaining harmony and balance among all the elements of one's character and in one's relationships with others
• Attitude


  A manner of acting, thinking, or feeling that is indicated by one's response toward another person, situation, or experience
• Attitudes of a Nurse

  • Acceptance of others
  • Helpfulness
  • Friendliness
  • Firmness
  • Permissiveness
  • Limit Setting
  • Sincerity
  • Competence
• Charm


  To influence the senses or the mind by some quality or attraction; delight
• Requirements for Charm


  • Voice: Modulated with clear enunciation
  • Manner: Courteous, attentive, patient, receptive
  • Heart: Empathetic, understanding, and tolerant
  • Intelligence: Keep an active mind, recognize beauty, accept new ideas, read and exchange opinions
  • Poise: Calmness, composure, evenness of temper, self-control
• Levels of Proficiency (Benner)


  • Novice
  • Advanced Beginner
  • Competent
  • Proficient
  • Expert
• Roles and Functions of a Professional Nurse

  • Care Provider
  • Communicator/Helper
  • Teacher
  • Counselor
  • Client Advocate
  • Leader
  • Change Agent
  • Manager
• Personal growth


  This role includes providing emotional, intellectual, and psychologic support
• Client Advocate


  The nurse promotes what is best for the client, ensures that the client's needs are met, and protects the client's rights
• Leader


  The nurse through the process of interpersonal influence helps the client make decisions in establishing and achieving goals to improve his well-being
• Change Agent


  The nurse initiates changes and assists the client make modifications in the lifestyle to promote health. This role involves identifying the problem, assessing the client's motivation and capacities for change, determining alternatives, exploring the possible outcomes of the alternatives, assessing resources, determining appropriate helping roles, establishing and maintaining a helping relationship, recognizing phases of the change process, and guiding the client through these phases
• Manager


  The nurse plans, gives directions, develops staff, monitors operations, gives rewards fairly, and represents both staff members and administration as needed. The nurse manages the nursing care of individuals, groups, families, and communities. The nurse manager delegates nursing activities to ancillary workers and other nurses and supervises and evaluates their performance
• Researcher


  The nurse participates in scientific investigation and uses research findings in practice. The nurse helps develop knowledge about health and the promotion of health over the full life span; care of persons with health problems and disabilities; and nursing actions to enhance people's ability to respond effectively to actual or potential health problems
• Case Manager


  The nurse coordinates the activities of other members of the health care team, such as nutritionists and physical therapists, when managing a group of client's care
• Collaborator


  The nurse works in a combined effort with all those involved in care delivery, for a mutually acceptable plan to be obtained that will achieve common goals. The nurse initiates nursing actions within the health team
• Fields of Nursing


  • Institutional Nursing (Hospital Staff Nursing)
  • Public Health Nursing
  • Independent Nursing Practice
  • Nursing in Other Fields (Expanded Nursing Roles)
• Institutional Nursing (Hospital Staff Nursing)

  The nurse provides direct client care, using the nursing process and critical thinking skills. The focus is restorative and curative. The nurse provides education to the client and family to promote health maintenance and self-care. In collaboration with other healthcare team members, the nurse focuses on returning the client to his or her home and usual state of health. In the hospital, the nurse may choose to practice in a medical-surgical unit or concentrate on a specific area of practice, such as critical care, pediatric care, emergency care. Hospital-based nurses may also choose to practice in specialty areas such as transplantation, rehabilitation, or oncology
• Public Health Nursing


  This nursing focus requires understanding the needs of a population, or a collection of individuals who have in common one or more personal or environmental characteristics. A nursing approach that merges knowledge from the public health sciences with professional nursing theories to safeguard and improve the health of populations in the community. The focus of such nursing care is somewhat broader than that of the public health, with an emphasis on health of a community. The community health nurse is prepared to provide direct care services to sub-populations within the community (follow-up of older adults recovering from stroke and need community rehabilitation services; giving immunizations to clients to manage communicable diseases within the community)
• Independent Nursing Practice


  It involves advanced nursing practice, and requires a Master's degree in Nursing, advanced education in pharmacology and physical assessment, and certification and expertise in a specialized area of practice. It allows the nurse to work in primary, acute, or restorative care settings. The nurse may function as a clinician, educator, case manager, consultant, and researcher within his or her area of practice, to plan or improve the quality of nursing care for the patient and family. The nurse will manage the health care of a group of clients by monitoring their chronic health problems and diagnosing and treating any new developing problems. The nurse will make necessary referrals for acute problems and complications to physicians and/or healthcare facilities
• Nursing in Other Fields (Expanded Nursing Roles)

  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
  • Nurse Midwife
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Nurse Researcher
  • Nurse Administrator
  • Nurse Educator
• Nurse Practitioner


  Has advanced education (at least a Master's Degree in Nursing) and is a graduate of nurse practitioner program. Functions with more independence and autonomy than other nurses. Is highly skilled in performing nursing assessments, physical examinations, counseling, teaching, and treating minor health problems. NPs have a specialty (obstetrics, pediatrics, family care)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)


  Has a Master's degree in Nursing and may have advanced experience and expertise in a specialized area of practice (Gerontology, Pediatrics, Critical Care, Oncology, Endocrinology, Cardiovascular Disease, Pulmonary Disease). Works in various settings, depending on their specialty. Roles include clinician, educator, manager, consultant, and researcher