The document discusses nursing as a profession and the criteria required for an occupation to be considered a profession. It outlines three main approaches to defining a profession - process, power, and trait approaches. The trait approach, as defined by Flexner, Bixler, and Pavalko, identifies key characteristics including a specialized body of knowledge, evidence-based practice, high intellectual functioning, individual responsibility, and public service. The document argues that nursing meets many of the trait-based criteria and is evolving into a fully recognized profession through the development of nursing science, research, and strong professional organizations.

1. Mr. Jayesh PatidarMr. Jayesh Patidar
Manikaka Topawala Institute of NursingManikaka Topawala Institute of Nursing
CHARUSAT University,CHARUSAT University,
CHARUSAT Campus, ChangaCHARUSAT Campus, Changa

2. NURSING AS A PROFESSIONNURSING AS A PROFESSION
CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS
CRITERIA OF A PROFESSIONCRITERIA OF A PROFESSION

3. DEFINING A PROFESSIONDEFINING A PROFESSION
POSITION:POSITION: A GROUP OF TASK ASSIGNED TO ONEA GROUP OF TASK ASSIGNED TO ONE
INDIVIDUALINDIVIDUAL
JOBJOB : A GROUP OF POSITIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR IN: A GROUP OF POSITIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR IN
NATURE AND LEVEL OF SKILL THAT CAN BENATURE AND LEVEL OF SKILL THAT CAN BE
CARRIED OUT BY ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALSCARRIED OUT BY ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS
OCCUPATION:OCCUPATION: A GROUP OF JOB THAT ARE SIMILAR INA GROUP OF JOB THAT ARE SIMILAR IN
TYPE OF WORK AND THAT ARE USUALLY FOUNDTYPE OF WORK AND THAT ARE USUALLY FOUND
THROUGHOUT AN INDUSTRY OR WORKTHROUGHOUT AN INDUSTRY OR WORK
ENVIRONMENT.ENVIRONMENT.
PROFESSION:PROFESSION: A TYPE OF OCCUPATION THAT MEETSA TYPE OF OCCUPATION THAT MEETS
CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT RAISE IT TO A LEVELCERTAIN CRITERIA THAT RAISE IT TO A LEVEL ABOVEABOVE
THAT OF AN OCCUPATIONTHAT OF AN OCCUPATION
PROFESSIONAL:PROFESSIONAL: A PERSON WHO BELONGS TO ANDA PERSON WHO BELONGS TO AND
PRACTICES A PROFESSION.PRACTICES A PROFESSION.
PROFESSIONALISM:PROFESSIONALISM: DEMONSTRATION OF HIGH LEVELDEMONSTRATION OF HIGH LEVEL
OF PERSONAL, ETHICAL AND HIGH LEVEL OFOF PERSONAL, ETHICAL AND HIGH LEVEL OF SKILLSKILL
CHARACTERISTICS OF A MEMBER OF ACHARACTERISTICS OF A MEMBER OF A PROFESSION.PROFESSION.

4. APPROACHES TO PROFESSIONAPPROACHES TO PROFESSION
 PROCESS APPROACHPROCESS APPROACH
 POWER APPROACHPOWER APPROACH
 TRAIT APPROACHTRAIT APPROACH

5. PROCESS APPROACHPROCESS APPROACH
 CONTINUUM OF PROFESSIONALCONTINUUM OF PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT
POSITION PROFESSIONPOSITION PROFESSION
 DISADVANTAGES: IT LACKS CRITERIADISADVANTAGES: IT LACKS CRITERIA
ON WHICH TO BASE THE JUDGMENT.ON WHICH TO BASE THE JUDGMENT.
FINALLY, THE DETERMINATION OF THEFINALLY, THE DETERMINATION OF THE
STATUS OF AN OCCUPATION ORSTATUS OF AN OCCUPATION OR
PROFESSION DEPENDS COMPLETELYPROFESSION DEPENDS COMPLETELY
UPON THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF THEUPON THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF THE
ACTIVITIES OF THAT PROFESSION.ACTIVITIES OF THAT PROFESSION.

6. POWER APPROACHPOWER APPROACH
 USESUSES TWOTWO CRITERIA TO DEFINE A PROFESSIONCRITERIA TO DEFINE A PROFESSION
1. INDEPENDENCE OF PROFESSION1. INDEPENDENCE OF PROFESSION
2. AMOUNT OF POWER THE OCCUPATION CONTROLS2. AMOUNT OF POWER THE OCCUPATION CONTROLS
 MEMBERS OF THESE OCCUPATIONS EARN HIGH INCOMEMEMBERS OF THESE OCCUPATIONS EARN HIGH INCOME
 PRACTICE THEIR SKILLS WITH GREAT DEAL OFPRACTICE THEIR SKILLS WITH GREAT DEAL OF
INDEPENDENCEINDEPENDENCE
 EXERCISE SIGNIFICANT POWER OVER INDIVIDUALS, THEEXERCISE SIGNIFICANT POWER OVER INDIVIDUALS, THE
PUBLIC AND THE POLITICAL COMMUNITIES, BOTHPUBLIC AND THE POLITICAL COMMUNITIES, BOTH
INDIVIDUALLY AND IN ORGANIZED GROUPS.INDIVIDUALLY AND IN ORGANIZED GROUPS.
LAW, MEDICINE AND POLITICS WOULD CLEARLY BELAW, MEDICINE AND POLITICS WOULD CLEARLY BE
CONSIDERED AS PROFESSION.CONSIDERED AS PROFESSION.
MINISTRY IS GENERALLY PERCEIVED OF HAVINGMINISTRY IS GENERALLY PERCEIVED OF HAVING
POWER AND INFLUENCE.POWER AND INFLUENCE.

7. POWER APPROACH TO NURSINGPOWER APPROACH TO NURSING
 RELATIVELY POOR SALARIESRELATIVELY POOR SALARIES
 LOW MEMBERSHIP IN ORGANIZATIONSLOW MEMBERSHIP IN ORGANIZATIONS
 PERCEIVED LACK OF POLITICAL POWERPERCEIVED LACK OF POLITICAL POWER
DOES NOT MEET THE POWER CRITERIADOES NOT MEET THE POWER CRITERIA
FOR A PROFESSIONFOR A PROFESSION

8. TRAIT APPROACHTRAIT APPROACH
TRAIT APPROACH:TRAIT APPROACH: FLEXNER, BIXLER ANDFLEXNER, BIXLER AND
PAVALKO ARE THE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED LEADERS INPAVALKO ARE THE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED LEADERS IN
THIS FIELD( SOCIAL SCIENTISTS) DETERMINESTHIS FIELD( SOCIAL SCIENTISTS) DETERMINES
FOLLOWING FEW CHARACTERISTICS :FOLLOWING FEW CHARACTERISTICS :
 HIGH INTELLECTUAL LEVEL.HIGH INTELLECTUAL LEVEL.
 HIGH LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY ANDHIGH LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.ACCOUNTABILITY.
 SPECIALIZED BODY OF KNOWLEDGE.SPECIALIZED BODY OF KNOWLEDGE.
 KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN BE LEARNT IN INSTITUTIONSKNOWLEDGE THAT CAN BE LEARNT IN INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATIONS.OF HIGHER EDUCATIONS.
 PUBLIC SERVICE AND ALTRUISTIC ACTIVITIES.PUBLIC SERVICE AND ALTRUISTIC ACTIVITIES.

9. TRAIT APPROACH ( Contd)TRAIT APPROACH ( Contd)
 PUBLIC SERVICE VALUED OVER FINANCIAL GAINPUBLIC SERVICE VALUED OVER FINANCIAL GAIN
 RELATIVELY HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY ANDRELATIVELY HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND
INDEPENDENCE OF PRACTICE.INDEPENDENCE OF PRACTICE.
 NEED FOR A WELL ORGANIZED AND STRONGNEED FOR A WELL ORGANIZED AND STRONG
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE MEMBERS OFORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE MEMBERS OF
THE PROFESSION IN THEIR PRACTICE.THE PROFESSION IN THEIR PRACTICE.
 STRONG PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY ANDSTRONG PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY AND
COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OFCOMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PROFESSION.PROFESSION.
 DEMONSTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCYDEMONSTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY
AND POSSESSION OF A LEGALLY RECOGNIZEDAND POSSESSION OF A LEGALLY RECOGNIZED
LICENSE.LICENSE.

10. CRITERIA OF THE PROFESSIONCRITERIA OF THE PROFESSION
1.1. HIGH INTELLECTUAL LEVEL OFHIGH INTELLECTUAL LEVEL OF
FUNCTIONING:FUNCTIONING:
 MODERN NURSES USE ASSESSMENT SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE,MODERN NURSES USE ASSESSMENT SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE,
HAVE THE ABILITY TO REASON AND MAKE ROUTINEHAVE THE ABILITY TO REASON AND MAKE ROUTINE
JUDGMENT DEPENDING ON PATIENT’S CONDITION.JUDGMENT DEPENDING ON PATIENT’S CONDITION.
 PROFESSIONAL NURSES FUNCTIONS AT A HIGHPROFESSIONAL NURSES FUNCTIONS AT A HIGH
INTELLECTUAL LEVEL .INTELLECTUAL LEVEL .
 Florence Nightingale raised the bar for education andFlorence Nightingale raised the bar for education and
graduates of her school were considered to be highlygraduates of her school were considered to be highly
educated.educated.

11. CRITERIA OF THE PROFESSIONCRITERIA OF THE PROFESSION
2.2. HIGH LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY ANDHIGH LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY:ACCOUNTABILITY:
• NURSES MUST BENURSES MUST BE ACCOUNTABLEACCOUNTABLE ANDAND
DEMONSTRATE A HIGH LEVEL OF INDIVIDUALDEMONSTRATE A HIGH LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE AND SERVICESRESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE AND SERVICES
THEY PROVIDE.THEY PROVIDE.
• THETHE CONCEPT OF ACCOUNTABILITYCONCEPT OF ACCOUNTABILITY HAS LEGAL,HAS LEGAL,
ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL IMPLICATIONS THATETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL IMPLICATIONS THAT
INCLUDEINCLUDE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIONACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTION
TAKEN TO PROVIDE CLIENT CARE AS WELL ASTAKEN TO PROVIDE CLIENT CARE AS WELL AS
ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
CONSEQUENCES OF ACTION THAT ARE NOTCONSEQUENCES OF ACTION THAT ARE NOT
PERFORMED.PERFORMED.

12. CRITERIA OF THE PROFESSIONCRITERIA OF THE PROFESSION
3.3. SPECIALIZED BODY OF KNOWLEDGE:SPECIALIZED BODY OF KNOWLEDGE:
NURSING HAS DEVELOPED INTO AN IDENTIFIABLENURSING HAS DEVELOPED INTO AN IDENTIFIABLE
SEPARATE DISCIPLINE A SPECIALIZED BODY OFSEPARATE DISCIPLINE A SPECIALIZED BODY OF
KNOWLEDGE CALLED ASKNOWLEDGE CALLED AS NURSING SCIENCENURSING SCIENCE WASWAS
COMPILED THROUGH THE RESEARCH EFFORT OF NURSESCOMPILED THROUGH THE RESEARCH EFFORT OF NURSES
WITH ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL DEGREES.WITH ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL DEGREES.
ALTHOUGH THISALTHOUGH THIS BODY OF SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGEBODY OF SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE ISIS
RELATIVELY SMALL, IT FORMS A THEORETICAL BASISRELATIVELY SMALL, IT FORMS A THEORETICAL BASIS
FOR THE PRACTICE OF NURSING TODAY.FOR THE PRACTICE OF NURSING TODAY.
AS MORE NURSES OBTAIN ADVANCED DEGREES , CONDUCTAS MORE NURSES OBTAIN ADVANCED DEGREES , CONDUCT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOP PHILOSOPHIES, ANDRESEARCH AND DEVELOP PHILOSOPHIES, AND
THEORIES ABOUT NURSING, THIS BODY OF KNOWLEDGETHEORIES ABOUT NURSING, THIS BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
WILL INCREASE IN SCOPE.WILL INCREASE IN SCOPE.

13. CRITERIA OF THE PROFESSIONCRITERIA OF THE PROFESSION
4. EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE4. EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE: ALMOST ALL THE: ALMOST ALL THE
CURRENTLY USED NURSING THEORIES ADDRESS THISCURRENTLY USED NURSING THEORIES ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE IN SOME WAY.ISSUE IN SOME WAY.
EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE IS THE PRACTICE OFEVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE IS THE PRACTICE OF
NURSING IN WHICH INTERVENTIONS ARE BASED ON DATANURSING IN WHICH INTERVENTIONS ARE BASED ON DATA
OBTAINED FROM RESEARCH THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT,OBTAINED FROM RESEARCH THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT,
THE FINDINGS ARE APPROPRIATE AND SUCCESSFUL.THE FINDINGS ARE APPROPRIATE AND SUCCESSFUL.
IT INVOLVES A SYSTEMATIC PROCESS OF UNCOVERING,IT INVOLVES A SYSTEMATIC PROCESS OF UNCOVERING,
EVALUATING AND USING INFORMATION FROM RESEARCHEVALUATING AND USING INFORMATION FROM RESEARCH
AS THE BASIS FOR MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT ANAS THE BASIS FOR MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT AN
PROVIDING CLIENT CARE.PROVIDING CLIENT CARE.

14. 5. PUBLIC SERVICE AND ALTRUISTIC5. PUBLIC SERVICE AND ALTRUISTIC
ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES
◊ Individual is the focal point of all nursing models andIndividual is the focal point of all nursing models and
nursing practicenursing practice
◊ Nursing has been viewed universally as being an altruisticNursing has been viewed universally as being an altruistic
profession composed of selfless individuals who place theprofession composed of selfless individuals who place the
lives and well being of their clients above their personallives and well being of their clients above their personal
safety.safety.
◊ Dedicated nurses provide care for victims of deadly diseasesDedicated nurses provide care for victims of deadly diseases
with little regard for their own welfare.with little regard for their own welfare.

15. 6. WELL ORGANISED AND STRONG6. WELL ORGANISED AND STRONG
REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION
•Professional organizations represent the members of the profession
and control the quality of professional practice
•National League of Nursing and the American Nurses Associations
are two organizations that represent nursing in today’s health care
system.
•NLN is primarily responsible for regulating the quality of
educational programs that prepare nurses for practice of nursing.
•ANA is more concerned with the quality of nursing practice in the
daily health care setting.
•Both these groups are well organized but neither can be considered
powerful when compared with other professional organizations
•Fewer than 15 % of all nurses are members of the professional
organizations at the national level.
•Many do belong to specialty organizations that represent a specific
area of practice. This lacks sufficient political power to produce
changes in health care laws and policies at the national level.

16. 7. CODE OF ETHICS7. CODE OF ETHICS
Nurses have several codes of ethics that are used to guideNurses have several codes of ethics that are used to guide
nursing practice.nursing practice.
Code of ethics is recognized by other profession as a standardCode of ethics is recognized by other profession as a standard
with which others are compared.with which others are compared.
Autonomy :Autonomy : Right of self determination, independence andRight of self determination, independence and
freedom. Client’s right to make decision for himself or herself.freedom. Client’s right to make decision for himself or herself.
Justice :Justice : Obligation to be fair to all peopleObligation to be fair to all people
Fidelity:Fidelity: obligation of an individual to be faithful to commitmentsobligation of an individual to be faithful to commitments
made to himself or herself and to others.made to himself or herself and to others.
Beneficence:Beneficence: One of the oldest requirements for health careOne of the oldest requirements for health care
providers, views the primary goal of health care as doing goodproviders, views the primary goal of health care as doing good
for clients under their care.for clients under their care.
Nonmaleficence:Nonmaleficence: requirement that health care providers do norequirement that health care providers do no
harm to their clients either intentionally or unintentionally.harm to their clients either intentionally or unintentionally.

17. 8. COMPETENCIES AND PROFESSIONAL8. COMPETENCIES AND PROFESSIONAL
LICENSELICENSE
Nurses must pass a national licensure examination to demonstrate
that they are qualified to practice nursing
Only after passing the examination the nurses are allowed to practice.
The granting of a nursing license is a legal activity conducted by the
individual state under the regulations contained in the state’s nursing
practice act.

18. 9. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE OF9. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE OF
PRACTICEPRACTICE
◊ IN REALITY NURSING IS BOTH AN INDEPENDENT ANDIN REALITY NURSING IS BOTH AN INDEPENDENT AND
INTER-DEPENDANT DISCIPLINE.INTER-DEPENDANT DISCIPLINE.
◊ NURSES IN ALL HEALTH CARE SETTING MUST WORK WITHNURSES IN ALL HEALTH CARE SETTING MUST WORK WITH
PHYSICIANS, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS, PHARMACISTSPHYSICIANS, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS, PHARMACISTS
AND OTHER GROUPS IN THE PROVISION OF CARE.AND OTHER GROUPS IN THE PROVISION OF CARE.
◊ IN SOME CASES NURSES IN ADVANCED PRACTICE ROLE EG.IN SOME CASES NURSES IN ADVANCED PRACTICE ROLE EG.
NURSE PRACTITIONERS CAN DO ESTABLISH THEIRNURSE PRACTITIONERS CAN DO ESTABLISH THEIR
INDEPENDENT PRACTICES.INDEPENDENT PRACTICES.
◊ NURSE PRACTICE ACT ALLOW NURSES TO PRACTICE MORENURSE PRACTICE ACT ALLOW NURSES TO PRACTICE MORE
INDEPENDENCE IN THEIR PRACTICE THAN THEY REALIZE.INDEPENDENCE IN THEIR PRACTICE THAN THEY REALIZE.
◊ TO BE CONSIDERED A TRUE PROFESSION, NURSING WILLTO BE CONSIDERED A TRUE PROFESSION, NURSING WILL
NEED TO BE RECOGNISED BY OTHER DISCIPLINES ASNEED TO BE RECOGNISED BY OTHER DISCIPLINES AS
HAVING PRACTITIONERS WHO PRACTICE NURSINGHAVING PRACTITIONERS WHO PRACTICE NURSING
INDEPDENTLY.INDEPDENTLY.

19. 10. PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY AND DEVELOPMENT10. PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY AND DEVELOPMENT
JOB: GROUP POSITION THAT ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE AND LEVEL OF
SKILL THAT CAN BE CARRIED OUT BY ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS
CAREER: IS VIEWED AS A PERSON’S MAJOR LIFE WORK, WHICH
PROGRESSES AND DEVELOPS AS THE PERSON GROWS OLDER.
CAREERS AND PROFESSIONS HAVE MANY OF THE SAME
CHARACTERISTICS:
i. FORMAL EDUCATION
ii. FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT
iii. DEDICATION TO WHAT IS BEING ACHIEVED
UNTIL NURSES ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO THE PROFESSION OF
NURSING, IDENTIFY WITH IT AS A PROFESSION AND ARE
DEDICATED TO ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, NURSING WILL
PROBABLY NOT ACHIEVE PROFESSIONAL STATUS.