Characteristics of a nursing profession

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF
PROFESSION
PREPARED BY:
USHA RANI KANDULA,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF ADULT HEALTH NURSING,
ARSI UNIVERSITY,ASELLA,ETHIOPIA,
SOUTH EAST AFRICA.

2. INTRODUCTION
 Nursing has been called a
profession for many years, an
assessment of characteristics of a
profession indicates that it should
more accurately be considered as
―emerging profession‖.

3. Characteristics of a profession
have been defined as:
Authority to control its own work.
Exclusive body of specialized knowledge.
Extensive period of formal training.
Specialized competence.
Control over work performance.
Service to society.

4. Self-regulation.
Credentialing system to certify
competence.
Legal reinforcement of professional
standards.
Ethical practice.
Creation of a collegial subculture.
Intrinsic rewards.
Public acceptance.

5. Apart from this the characteristics of a
profession can be categorized as
following:

6. Intellectual:
 This character is reflecting
commitment to serve society. This
category has three components:

7. a) Body of knowledge:
 professional practice is based on
body of knowledge derived from
experience (leading to expertise)
and research (leading to theoretical
foundation for knowledge).

8.  This knowledge base contributes to
judgment and rationale for modifying
actions according to specific
situation.

9.  However, the education has often
emphasized proven methods for
responding to particular kinds of
situations.

10.  e.g. clients may be discharged
without self care teaching because
the doctor did not write an order.

11. b) Specialized education:
 Nursing transmits knowledge
through specialized education.
 However, there are five levels of
basic education for registered
nurses, all of which prepare for one
licensure examination.

12.  Three of five levels (diploma,
associate degree and baccalaureate
degree) accept high school
graduation where as other two
(master‘s degree and doctoral
degree) accept college with liberal
arts majors.

13. c) Critical and Creative Thinking:
 A logical and critical thinking process
is one essential component of
professional practice.
 The nursing process is a problem
solving approach. It includes:

14. Collect and organize information
derived from multiple sources.
Decide what is needed, based on that
information.
Select and implement one approach
from among many possible
approaches.
Evaluate the results of the process.

15. Personal
 This category emphasizes on
autonomy. Autonomy means the
practitioners have control over their
own functions in a work setting.

16.  Autonomy involves independence, a
willingness to take risks and
responsibility and accountability for
one‘s own actions as well as self-
determination and self-regulation.

17.  The autonomous practitioners are
also obligated to collaborate with
others for the benefit of the patient.

18. Interpersonal:
 Nursing is a significant therapeutic
interpersonal process.
 It functions cooperatively with other
human processes that make health
possible for individuals in the
communities.

19.  The nurse collaborates with the
patient, significant others and health
care providers in the formulation of
overall goals and plan of care and in
the decisions related to care and
delivery of services.

20. THANKING YOU