LECTURE NOTE

1. DR ZULKIFLU MUSA ARGUNGU
Foundation of Professional Nursing Practice I
Study Session: Professional Nursing Practice I

2. Prelude
• When people hear the word "nurse," they often think of
qualities such as compassion and patience.
• They also need strong morals and ethics and the
commitment to always act in the best interests of their
patients.
• Nurses are health care professionals who are part of a
health care team. They are no longer the “handmaid” of
the doctor but an integral part of quality patient care

3. Con......t
• The word nurse comes from Latin word NUTRIX which
means to nourish to protect, to educate, to support and to
supply.
• Nurse not only provides care to the sick and injured patient,
but also helps in the prevention of disease and their cure.
• The nurse serve as a teacher, helps to educate public in regard
to health measures, she care for the mind as well as body

4. Learning Outcomes
1. When you have studied this session, you should
be able to:
2. Discuss professional nursing practice and
qualities of professional nurses.
3. Highlight and explain the professional
regulations of nursing practice.
4. Describe the importance of professionalism in
nursing.

5. Did you read about !
Professionalism

6. Profession
An occupation that requires extensive education
or a calling that requires special knowledge,
skill, and preparation.
OR
The services offered by a profession are
based on specialized knowledge and skills that
have been developed in scientific and learned
manner

7. Characteristics of a “profession”
The fundamental characteristics of a profession:
• Great responsibility
• Accountability.
• Based on specialized, theoretical knowledge.
• Institutional preparation
• Autonomy.
• Clients rather than customers.
• Direct working relationships.
• Ethical Constraints

8. Professionalism
• Professionalism in nursing means much more than
simply wearing a uniform and speaking politely.
• It encompasses a set of values that are critical to
elevating the quality of patient care while improving
the methods, standards, and judgments that guide
nursing practices every day.

9. Professionalization
The process of becoming professional,
that is, of acquiring characteristics
considered to be professional.

10. What Is Professionalism in Nursing?
• In nursing, professionalism reflects the act of
providing quality patient care while honoring the
values of respect, advocacy, and responsibility.
• Professionalism also extends to a nurse’s ability to
communicate clearly and self-reflect on behaviors
and actions, always striving for both professional and
personal development.

11. The diverse components of nursing professionalism
Cognitive
The cognitive type of professionalism focuses on the ability to
continually learn about professional conduct and apply this
growing base of knowledge in work settings.
Ultimately, nurses who practice this skill should develop the key
tools they need to prioritize and make decisions effectively.

12. Attitudinal
• The attitudinal dimension of nursing professionalism involves
the attitudes and ideas that guide nurses as they perform their
job duties and advance through their careers.
• Ideally, the attitudes of nurses should align with practical
standards and the broader goals of their organizations.
• A nurse’s willingness to be flexible and make compromises
for the greater good has a major bearing on the ability to
navigate professional challenges that lie ahead.

13. Psychomotor
The psychomotor aspect of professionalism in nursing promotes
the idea that as professionals gain experience, they can do more
than build their clinical skills.
They can sharpen their management skills and better understand
the inherent obligations and commitments involved in the
practice of nursing.
Nurses may apply these principles of professional conduct to
become better leaders, guide actions using value judgments, and
establish self-directed commitments to provide the highest level
of patient care.

14. Attributes of Professionalism
Professionalism fosters the development of many admirable soft skills. Nurses may
learn these skills through their life and work experience, and develop them over the
course of their careers Common attributes of professionalism are:
• Conflict resolution: This involves a professional's ability to solve a problem. It
requires the nurse to consider the needs of everyone involved in the conflict, while
communicating possible solutions with respect.
• Ethical thinking: This skill enables nurses to make value-based judgments that
align with professional standards and moral codes, prioritizing the needs of patients
and colleagues ahead of their own.
• Adaptability: This demonstrates the capacity to combine new information with
education, experience and professional guidelines to re-evaluate a situation and
make changes that lead to more effective solutions.

15.  Leadership: leadership is founded on excellent
communication skills, attention to detail, respect, and
resourcefulness. Professionals commonly build leadership
skills as they move on to more senior roles, in which they can
guide others to provide higher levels of care.
 Collaboration: This is the key to professionalism. Working
with others and being able to communicate and cooperate is
crucial to developing an efficient work environment that
places patient needs at the forefront.

16. Indicators of Professionalism in
Nursing
• In nursing, professionalism is judged based on personal
behaviours, appearance, presentation, and so on. There are
various indicators of professionalism that include positive
attitude, compassionate patient interactions professional
responsibility, teamwork and integrity, etc. Main indicators
of professionalism are as follows:
• Positive Attitude :The first and most obvious indicator of
professionalism in nursing is a positive attitude. As nurses
are the backbone of health care system, they must work to
maintain a positive environment and communication in all
areas and at all times.

17. • Communication and interactions : Nurses are the
primary point of contact for every patient, who comes to
hospital. Therefore, it is paramount that every nurses
capable of interacting positively and productively with each
patient. They must treat the patients with the utmost
dignity in every circumstance interactions of the nurses
with patients should always convey compassion. The
feelings of the clients must be respected, even if the nurses
do not agree with their choices.
• Kindness : Approaching others with patience and respect
for their perspective enables constructive criticism and
stronger collaboration. Treat others as one's like to be trea

18. • Professional Responsibility : A key indicator of professionalism
in any career is the appropriate handling of responsibility. In
health care where people's well-being and lives are in the hands
of health professionals, professionalism in nursing i utmost
important. A nurse has to care for patients, monitor their vital
signs using delicate equipment and handle medication. She must
take this very seriously at all times, by demonstrating an
awareness of the consequences of a mistake and how to prevent
them from occurring.
• Self-Discipline : Professionalism in nursing also involves self-
discipline. Whilst nurses are to an extent under the jurisdiction of
their seniors, they must be self-motivated by keeping their duties
on top. Self-discipline is essential in ensuring high standards of
patient care.

19. • Readiness to Learn : Another element of professionalism in
nursing is the willingness to learn and develop. In any field of
health care, education doesn't end after completing the degree
course. She must be interested in actively keeping up-to-date
with the latest medical research and nursing best practice.
• Teamwork : Teamwork is central to any health care career.
It's essential for nurses to maintain collaborative and
cooperative relationships with everyone from fellow nurses to
doctors and consultants. Regardless of the personal feelings
toward a colleague, they must put patients' well- being first
and work closely and effectively with each team member. This
involves effective communication, taking the time to help
others, and showing moral supp and solidarity with co-
workers.

20. • Integrity : Every nurse must maintain complete integrity
throughout her career, Nurses must know when to compromise in
conflicts, and when to stand up for their beliefs. They must be
able to advocate for their patients and consult the appropriate
people if they have any concerns within the workplace. However,
they must also be self-aware and willing to assess where
improvements can be made.
• Honesty : Another indicator of professionalism involves honesty.
Nurses must be able to honestly explain to patients their
diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, no matter how hard it is.
Nurses also need to be humble enough to admit if they have
made a mistake and put in the necessary steps to remedy the
situation.

21. • Unbiased Approach : Nurses must have a good sense of
ethics, and be able to treat every patient equally,
regardless of their age, race, genders, condition or socio-
economic background.
• Work Ethics : Nurses must follow professional ethics at
work place. Working with children, youth and families is
one of the most rewarding and at the same time
challenging endeavors. It requires dedication, commitment,
problem- solving skills, and a willingness to learn, change,
and is flexible in order to address the multiple and often
complex needs of various individuals.

22. Important of Professionalism to a
Nurse
• Altruism: Its a concern for the welfare & well being
of others. In professional practice altruism is
reflected by the nurse’s concern for the welfare of
clients, colleagues & other health care practitioners.
• Autonomy: Its the right to self determination.
Professional practice reflects autonomy when the
nurse respects clients rights to make decisions about
their health care.

23. • Human dignity: Its the respect for the inherent worth & uniqueness
of individuals & populations. In professional practice, human dignity is
reflected when the nurse values & respects all clients & colleagues.
• Integrity: Maintaining medical records for patients also needs a level
of professionalism. Medical records are meant to be confidential, and
a loose-mouthed nurse can inadvertently release this confidential data
to the wrong party. Nurses are trusted with a great deal of delicate
information. The medical field counts on a nurse’s professionalism and
integrity to keep confidential matters confidential.
• Social justice: Its upholding moral, legal & humanistic principles.
This value is reflected in professional practice when the nurse works
to assure equal treatment under the law & equal access to quality
health care.

24. Respect for Patient: Patients can be difficult to deal with, but a professional
nurse cannot lose his or her temper. It’s imperative to remember that the
patient is in the hospital to receive care. No one likes being the receiver,
subject to the moods and generosity of the giver. This makes some patients
cranky. A professional nurse is prepared to treat all patients with the utmost
respect and dignity, no matter what the provocation.
Appearance: People will always judge you by your appearance; there’s no
way of getting around this. When it comes to nursing, a nurse’s appearance
can either instil confidence in the patient, or total mistrust.
Non-Biased Care for Patients: Health care centres see patients of all ages,
sizes, colours, races and backgrounds. A nurse’s job is to see a patient as a
patient, and not focus on attributes that might be personally disliked.
Showing any kind of prejudice will hinder the quality of patient care, not to
speak of earning a bad reputation for the hospital. A truly professional nurse
would ensure high standard, non-biased care for all patients.

25. Professional Regulations of
Nursing
Nurses provide medical care and educate patients, families and the
public about health issues. Professional regulations provide
guidelines, design to protect patient and ensure they get the best
care possible for nurses. They also provide an ethical framework and
standards of care for nurses to follow. Nursing regulations are set
and enforce by state boards of nursing and may vary slightly.
State regulations:
State boards of nursing determine regulations, policy and standards
for nurses. They also review and accredit nursing educational
programs. Finally, they investigate and revoke licences for nurses
who use unsafe practice and endanger patients.

26. Licensure and certification
• Nurses must be licensed in the state where they work.
Nurses must complete an accredited training program and
may choose from diploma, associate degree, and bachelor’s
degree and master’s degree programs. Some nurses start
with diploma in nursing and continue their education while
working.
• In addition, nurses must take and pass the national council
licensure examination and meet any other requirement for
licences. Nurses may choose to become certified in a
specialty area of nursing.

27. Continuing education: Nurses must keep their licenses current and
complete their required continuing education. Medical knowledge and
technology is always improving, so nurses must learn the newest
treatment method to keep informed about current medical issues,
law and regulations.
Patients care: Nurses must maintain high standards in patient’s
care, specifically in administering medication which is one of the
most common tasks for a nurse. Incorrect administration of
medication, whether it is the wrong medicine or wrong dosage, can
have serious and even fatal consequences for the patient. Nursing
regulations hold nurses accountable for the care they give.

28. References
AACN: Hallmarks of the Professional
Nursing Practice Setting
Nursing World: The Practice of
Professional Nursing
American Nursing Association. (2011a).
Nursing World. Available:
www.nursingworld.org/.