1. The document discusses the criteria for a profession according to the trait approach, including specialized knowledge gained through higher education, high intellectual ability, individual responsibility, public service, and autonomy.
2. Nursing meets these criteria, with nurses using specialized skills and assessment techniques learned in institutions of higher education and demonstrating a high level of individual responsibility and accountability in patient care.
3. Nursing also exhibits traits of a profession such as developing a specialized body of knowledge through research, representing members' interests through organizations like the American Nurses Association, and requiring licensure to demonstrate competence.