Gimmie your top 5 reasons that nursing is considered a profession. What exactlt makes up a profession? thanks (im polling for a paper im preparing)

It is a profession ONLY in the sense that big rig driving, for example, can be considered a profession.

Nursing is a "profession" because we have college degrees. (not true many years ago, but true today).

I thought that a dictionary definition of the word was in order.

Profession

"SYLLABICATION: pro-fes-sion

PRONUNCIATION: pr-fshn

NOUN: 1a. An occupation or career: "One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession" (Joan Nathan, New York Times Book Review April 30, 1989). b. An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study. c. The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field: members of the teaching profession. 2. An act or instance of professing; a declaration. 3. An avowal of faith or belief. 4. A faith or belief: believers of various professions.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved."

I guess that it depends on which definition we choose to use: 1a or 1b.

Well on the one hand we as R.N.'s are required a collegiate level education, and continuing education,and must have a registered Liscence for which we are tested and must pass to recieve. We are held accountable to a Board and Gverned by said board. We are directly involved in Life and Death of Human beings... On the other hand , we like garbage collectors, perform jobs that most HUMANS would flinch and flee .... .....( I guess tongue wagging isnt very PROFEESIONAL:D .....

Facility just notified all nurses that we are now required to make up ANY weekend sick time. What other PROFESSION does that? I'm just so discouraged. So discouraged.

Nursing is a profession because we say so! :)

Hookers are "pros" afterall!

I was told a profession has to:

Have a unique body of knowledge (debatable with nursing)

Provide a service to the public

Competently apply their knowledge

Be self regulating

Add accountability to the list.

Nursing is a profesion, (unlike paramedicine) because you have a central licencing system (NCLEX) that is widely recognized and have pretty uniform minimum standards with college requirements. Not to bag on Medics too hard, (I'm one) but we repeatedly shoot ourselves in the foot by not having these to things.

Originally posted by fergus51

I was told a profession has to:

Have a unique body of knowledge (debatable with nursing)

Provide a service to the public

Competently apply their knowledge

Be self regulating

Oh my God. I was looking at this and what Nurse Ratched said about hookers. The legal brothels here in Nevada would qualify for professional status! :imbar :stone

Self regulation and accountability are what I remember from nursing school- I beleive that being a profession has a legal definition- you're not a professional just because you say you are.

Yes, but.... if nursing is a profession why are so many of us required to punch the clock??? Are any other professionals-MD's, lawyers, etc-required to clock in and out???

Other professions, again MD's and lawyers, are considered by the public and other professions as being professionals--does the public or doctors consider nurses to be professionals--I don't see any evidence that the majority do. With a few exceptions, most doctors don't see what nurses do as being of any value, unless of course, they are directly benefited in some way.

(Sorry to be so crabby--it's been a bad week!)