The Nursing Profession: Development, Characteristics, and Roles
Nursing as a Profession
Early nursing, originating in nursing homes, lacked the features of a profession, being considered occupation-based and common knowledge rather than a science. The first nursing theory marked the emergence of scientific knowledge in this field.
Nurses began to document their expertise in notes and publications, notably with Florence Nightingale.
Nursing practice is increasingly gaining recognition as a profession.
Professionalism refers to the character, spirit, or methods of a profession. It encompasses a set of attributes and a way of life involving personality and commitment.
Professionalization is the process of acquiring professional properties.
Requirements of the Nursing Profession
The nursing profession requires its members to have significant training. Most nurses agree that training is crucial for practice and should adapt to changes in healthcare driven by scientific and technological advancements.
Body of Knowledge contributes to the knowledge base of nursing and directs practice, teaching, and research.
Service Orientation distinguishes nursing from occupations primarily driven by profit. This service must adhere to rules, a code of conduct, and ethical guidelines.
Code of Ethics evolves with societal needs and values. Nursing has established its own code of ethics and methods to regulate its members’ professional conduct.
Autonomy means a profession regulates itself and sets standards for its members. To be autonomous, a professional group must have the legal authority to define its practice objectives, functions, roles, and responsibilities in providing services.
Characteristics of Professional Nursing
Intellectual
- Based on a body of knowledge.
- Uses the scientific method in practice.
- Employs analytical skills with critical thinking and creativity.
Practice
- Requires skills and abilities.
Academic
- Characterized by strong theoretical training.
- Nurses must specialize to improve care quality.
Technical Skills
- Based on scientific principles guiding practice and providing legitimacy and autonomy.
Theory
- Exercised within an ethical framework, as indicated in the nursing code of ethics.
Autonomy
- Controls its own independence and responsibility for actions.
Social
- Its principle is to help people maintain their health.
- Must be sensitive to human needs and contribute to the welfare of others.
Nursing Defined
Nursing is the science of human health care. It is a discipline that has increasingly defined its roles in health sciences, especially in recent years. It is also known as the nursing profession based on that science.
Nursing care encompasses autonomous and collaborative actions provided to individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, whether sick or healthy, in all contexts. This includes health promotion, disease prevention, and care for the sick, disabled, and dying. Essential nursing functions include promotion, creating a safe environment, research, participation in health policy, patient and health systems management, and training.
Essential Abilities for Nursing Staff
- Act with full knowledge and awareness.
- Work effectively in teams and interdisciplinary settings.
- Serve and assist those in need.
- Demonstrate security and confidence.
Characteristics of Nursing Care
Safe and Timely
- Nursing staff uses techniques based on a systematic body of theory, applied at the right time.
Individualized
- Each person has unique needs and responds differently to illness.
Centered on Basic Human Needs
- Considers the individual’s degree of independence.
Nursing Roles Based on Autonomy
Nursing roles are defined by the responsibilities a nurse is trained and authorized to fulfill.
Dependent Functions
Activities related to medical interventions, guiding the execution of these interventions.
Derived Functions
Actions delegated to nursing staff by other professionals, primarily medical professionals.
Interdependent Functions
Actions taken by nurses in collaboration with other healthcare team members.
Occupational Profile of the Graduate Nurse
Knowledge
- Nursing conceptual, social, human development, communication, basic sciences.
- Methodology of the teaching-learning process.
- The scientific method.
Skills
- Performing nursing techniques and procedures for patient care.
- Applying the nursing process.
Assistance Activities Settings
Hospital Setting
Care in this environment focuses on maintaining and restoring individual needs impaired by a pathological process. Assistance functions include:
- Addressing basic needs.
- Implementing care to reduce damage caused by disease.
Community-Hospital
Nursing staff develops a welfare function as a member of a community health team, sharing activities and objectives.