Nursing is gaining recognition as a true profession based on established criteria. It utilizes a well-defined body of specialized knowledge in its practice and constantly expands its knowledge through research. Nursing education occurs in institutions of higher learning. As a profession, nursing applies its knowledge and skills to provide vital services that benefit human and social welfare. Nursing functions autonomously through professional organizations that set standards to control its practice. The profession attracts dedicated, intellectual individuals focused on service over personal gain who see it as lifelong work.

1. Nursing as a Profession
S.M. Nazmul Al-Deen,
Clinical Instructor,
SFMM KPJ NURSING COLLEGE

2. Nursing is an art;
and if it is to be made an art,
it requires as exclusive a devotion,
as hard a preparation,
as any painter's or sculptor's work;
for what is the having to do with
dead canvas or cold marble,
compared with having to do with the
living body - the temple of God's spirit?
It is one of the Fine Arts;
I had almost said
the finest of the Fine Arts
- Florence Nightingale

3. • Profession is defined as "a vocation েপেশা
requiring advanced training and usually
involving mental rather than manual work,
as teaching, engineering, especially
medicine, law“
-Webster1989.

4. Profession
• Professions are those occupations possessing a
particular combination of characteristics
generally considered to be the expertise,
autonomy, commitment, and responsibility.
• A profession is an occupation based on
specialized intellectual study and training, the
purpose of which is to supply skilled services
with ethical ৈনৈতিতিকcomponents and others.

5. Occupation
• Training may be on job and duration varies.
• The values, beliefs, and ethics are not
prominent features.
• The commitment and identification: varies.
• In occupation people often change Job.
• Accountability rest on employer.

6. • Is basically intellectual
• Is based on a body of knowledge that can be
learned.
• Is practical rather than theoretical.
• Can be taught through a process of professional
education.
• Has a strong internal organization of members.
• Has practitioners who are motivated by altruism
(desire to help others)
Profession

7. Professions vs Occupations
SL. NO. Professions Occupations
1. 1 College or University On the job training
1. 2 Prolonged education Length varies
1. 3 Mental creativity Largely manual work
1. 4
Decisions based on science or theoretical
constructs
Guided decision making
1. 5
Values, beliefs & ethics integral part of
preparation
Values, beliefs & ethics
not part of preparation
1. 6 Strong commitment Commitment may vary
1. 7 Autonomous Supervised
1. 8 Unlikely to change professions Often change jobs
1. 9 Individual accountability
Employer is primarily
accountable

8. • Genevieve and Roy Bixler, a husband and
wife team of non-Nurses who were
nevertheless advocates and supporters of
nursing, first wrote about the status of
nursing as a profession in 1945

9. • They appraised nursing according to
theire original seven criteria, noting the
progress made in nursing, as a
profession.

10. • Abraham Flexner (1910), conducted study of
medical education and went on to study
other disciplines and latter, in a paper about
social work published a list of criteria that
he felt were characteristics of all true
professions. Flexner's believed in
professional work

11. Criteria of profession:
Abraham Flexner (1916)
• Intellectual (opposite of physical).
• Based on body of knowledge, that can be learned.
• Practical rather than theoretical.
• Can be taught through a process of professional
education.
• Has a string দৃঢ় internal organization of members.
• Has practioner

12. William shepherd (1948):
• Based on scientific principles.
• Demands: adequate pre-professional and cultural
training.
• Demand: specialized and systematized knowledge.
• Must give: evidence of needed
• Scientific technique: tested experiences.
• Time judgment / duty Performance.
• Beneficial work.
• Group consciousness: scientific knowledge.
• Sufficient self impelling অনুপ্র্রাণিণিত করাণ power.
• Obligation to society: code of ethics.

13. Kelly: - 1981
• Service provided is vital to humanity and
welfare of society.
• Special body of knowledge: continually.
• Intellectual activity: accountability.
• Educated in institutions.
• Relatively independent: autonomy.
• Motivated by job / service.
• Code of ethics: to guide decisions.
• Organization (association): to encourage and
support practice.

14. Standard of ANA – Scope and Standards of Practice, 2004
According to Bruhn - 2001
• Be civil
• Be ethical
• Be honest
• Be the best
• Be consistentসাণমঞ্রজসয্রপ্ূর্ণির্র
• Be a communicator
• Be accountable
•Be collaborative
•Be forgiving
•Be current
•Be involved
•Be a model

15. Nursing is gaining recognition as a profession
based on the criteria that a profession must
have: -
• A well defined body of knowledge.
• A strong service orientation.
• Recognized authority by a professional group.
• A code of ethics: ICN.
• A professional organization that sets standards
• On going research.
• Autonomy.
Hence, nursing is a Nobel profession, Recognized
internationally.

16. 1. A profession utilizes in its practice a well-
defined and well-organized body of specialized
knowledge.
2. A profession constantlyপ্র্রতিতিনিনিয়তিন enlarges the
body of knowledge it uses and improves its
techniques of education and service by the
scientific method.
3. A profession entrusts নিয্রতস্রততিনকরা the education of
its practitioners to institutions of higher
education.
Functions of Profession :

17. 4. A profession applies its body of
knowledge in practical services which are
vital to human and social welfare.
5. A profession functions autonomously in
the formation of professional policy and
control of professional activity thereby.

18. 6. A profession attracts individuals of
intellectual and personal qualities who exalt
উনি্রতনিতিনকরা service above personal gain and who
recognize their chosen occupation as a life
work.
7. A profession strives সংগ্র্রতামকরা to compensate
প্র্রতিতিনদানিকরা its practitioners by providing freedom
of action, opportunity for continuous
professional growth and economic security

19. Public Concern with Nursing
• What is the image of nursing being created
today?
• Saint vs. Sinner image
• “Can I trust my life to this RN?
• Public want to believe that knowledgeable,
caring, committed and dedicated RNs will be
available for them.

20. What the Public Believes About Nursing
• RNs ranked highest among all professions for
the highest professional standards of honesty
and ethics
• Public seek advice in 4 areas:
– self-care or immediate post op care
– health care products
– administration
– interpreting physician-provided information

21. Nursing’s View
• Female dominated by persons socialized to be
anti-intellectuals
• Focus on skills rather than critical thinking
• Knowledge is power

22. Communicating with Physicians
• Factually document medical problems in
patient care terms
• Stay on the issue, not personality
• Appropriate communication
– do not allow inappropriate interruptions

23. Creating a New Image
• Nurses value nursing and image it daily
• Nurses take themselves seriously and dress the
part
• Nurses recognize the value of caring, health
promotion, health teaching, and illness care
• Nurses believe in themselves and their
colleagues

24. Barriers to Professionalism
• Variability in educational preparation
• Gender issues
• Historical influences
• External conflicts
• Internal conflicts

25. Thank you