What is meant by the term "Professional"

Gomer · Apr 29, 2003

Originally posted by kitty=^..^=cat
It isn't just the ANA -- In many business arenas, the term "professional" indicates that an individual has completed at least a 4-year college degree. Anything less than that is considered "para-professional" or "technical".

Don't blame it on the ANA. I believe the Dept. of Labor set those standards.

Gomer · Apr 29, 2003

Originally posted by kitty=^..^=cat
It isn't just the ANA -- In many business arenas, the term "professional" indicates that an individual has completed at least a 4-year college degree. Anything less than that is considered "para-professional" or "technical".

Don't blame it on the ANA. I believe the Dept. of Labor set those standards.

live4today, RN · Apr 29, 2003

I say "ditto" to what Gator, SN shared with us! :kiss :nurse:

live4today, RN · Apr 29, 2003

I say "ditto" to what Gator, SN shared with us! :kiss :nurse:

betts · Apr 29, 2003

A topic that I had to research. Very interesting reading, but has given me a headache; Thanks gwenith!...lol

What is a Professional?

Questions about what makes a profession and what makes someone professional have been prevalent in the literature over many years. Although the terms have common usage, they also have quite specific definitions built around the observed characteristics of the more established and powerful professions such as law and medicine. According to Warren Piper (1994), the "quintessential" profession is commonly described as: a full-time occupation distinguishable from being an amateur activity; requiring the completion of some form of higher education; associated with the mastery of a definable body of knowledge; and having a responsibility to the client. Furthermore, professions are associated with a form of control, which is not externally imposed but rather is managed through their own professional bodies, which oversee a range of procedures including registration, accreditation, sanctions and codes of ethics.

The issue of professional learning - the need for professionals to continue learning as they practice and advance in their careers. In spite of difficulties in defining a profession, the notion of professional learning is a readily acceptable characteristic of a profession. Because the work of professionals relies on a very complex, ever-changing knowledge base and because professionals are continually confronted with new cases and problems, professionals need to engage in a process of on-going learning (Eraut 1994, p. 10). In many professions, the need for such learning is recognized to the extent that it is formalized and a requirement of continuing registration or accreditation by the professional body. Such professions require the completion of specific continuing professional education (CEU) for the renewal of registration to practice in the profession or to remain a member of the professional body. Whether or not continuing professional education is a formal requirement, it is difficult to imagine a profession, which is not characterized by the need for on-going professional learning.

References

Altbach, P. (1995) Problems and Possibilities: the US Academic Profession. Studies in Higher Education, 20 (1), 27 - 44.

Becher, T. (1996) The Learning Professions. Studies in Higher Education,

Boud, D. (1993) Experience as the Base for Learning. Higher Education Research and Development, 12 (1), 33 - 44.

Eraut, M. (1994) Developing Professional Knowledge and Competence London: Falmer Press.

Etzioni, A. (Ed) (1969) The Semi-Professions and their Organization New York: Free Press.

betts · Apr 29, 2003

A topic that I had to research. Very interesting reading, but has given me a headache; Thanks gwenith!...lol

What is a Professional?

Questions about what makes a profession and what makes someone professional have been prevalent in the literature over many years. Although the terms have common usage, they also have quite specific definitions built around the observed characteristics of the more established and powerful professions such as law and medicine. According to Warren Piper (1994), the "quintessential" profession is commonly described as: a full-time occupation distinguishable from being an amateur activity; requiring the completion of some form of higher education; associated with the mastery of a definable body of knowledge; and having a responsibility to the client. Furthermore, professions are associated with a form of control, which is not externally imposed but rather is managed through their own professional bodies, which oversee a range of procedures including registration, accreditation, sanctions and codes of ethics.

The issue of professional learning - the need for professionals to continue learning as they practice and advance in their careers. In spite of difficulties in defining a profession, the notion of professional learning is a readily acceptable characteristic of a profession. Because the work of professionals relies on a very complex, ever-changing knowledge base and because professionals are continually confronted with new cases and problems, professionals need to engage in a process of on-going learning (Eraut 1994, p. 10). In many professions, the need for such learning is recognized to the extent that it is formalized and a requirement of continuing registration or accreditation by the professional body. Such professions require the completion of specific continuing professional education (CEU) for the renewal of registration to practice in the profession or to remain a member of the professional body. Whether or not continuing professional education is a formal requirement, it is difficult to imagine a profession, which is not characterized by the need for on-going professional learning.

References

Altbach, P. (1995) Problems and Possibilities: the US Academic Profession. Studies in Higher Education, 20 (1), 27 - 44.

Becher, T. (1996) The Learning Professions. Studies in Higher Education,

Boud, D. (1993) Experience as the Base for Learning. Higher Education Research and Development, 12 (1), 33 - 44.

Eraut, M. (1994) Developing Professional Knowledge and Competence London: Falmer Press.

Etzioni, A. (Ed) (1969) The Semi-Professions and their Organization New York: Free Press.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2003

Wow! Impressive post! Thankyou Betts! My intent when I posted was to elicit a post such as yours but I did not expect such a high level academic response.

My real reason in posting was to point out that the term professional is often used as a "bat" to beat people over the head with standards of behaviour and /or academic achievement which really have nothing to do with the term itself.

Throughout my career I encountered examples of this misuse of the term. The informal use of the term to set standards within nursing is built on a habit so common as to be entrenched in custom. Because it is an informal use of the term it can and is misused to set standards that may be either parochial or idiosynchratic.

Before the next bandwagon rolls by touting a standard for "professionalism" please consider who and what is driving.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2003

Wow! Impressive post! Thankyou Betts! My intent when I posted was to elicit a post such as yours but I did not expect such a high level academic response.

My real reason in posting was to point out that the term professional is often used as a "bat" to beat people over the head with standards of behaviour and /or academic achievement which really have nothing to do with the term itself.

Throughout my career I encountered examples of this misuse of the term. The informal use of the term to set standards within nursing is built on a habit so common as to be entrenched in custom. Because it is an informal use of the term it can and is misused to set standards that may be either parochial or idiosynchratic.

Before the next bandwagon rolls by touting a standard for "professionalism" please consider who and what is driving.

ChainedChaosRN · Apr 29, 2003

Main Entry: [1]pro-fes-sion-al

Pronunciation: pr&-'fesh-n&l, -'fe-sh&-n&l

Function: adjective

Date: circa 1748

1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b : engaged in one of the learned professions c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2) : exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace

2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs b : having a particular profession as a permanent career c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return

3 : following a line of conduct as though it were a profession

- pro-fes-sion-al-ly adverb

Pronunciation Key

Merriam-Webster Privacy Policy

I was interested in what the dictionary said...thought I would share.

ChainedChaosRN · Apr 29, 2003

Main Entry: [1]pro-fes-sion-al

Pronunciation: pr&-'fesh-n&l, -'fe-sh&-n&l

Function: adjective

Date: circa 1748

1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b : engaged in one of the learned professions c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2) : exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace

2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs b : having a particular profession as a permanent career c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return

3 : following a line of conduct as though it were a profession

- pro-fes-sion-al-ly adverb

Pronunciation Key

Merriam-Webster Privacy Policy

I was interested in what the dictionary said...thought I would share.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 30, 2003

Professionalism in Nursing: The Struggle to Attain Professional Status

http://home.cwru.edu/~pst/

Could not have stated this better myself.

From NSNA viewpoint:Professionalism and Activism: One and the Same

http://www.nsna.org/pubs/imprint/sepoct00/prof_act.pdf

Professionalism Course at Northern Arizona University:

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~erw/nur301/profession/

Characteristics of a Profession (list):

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~erw/nur301/profession/characteristics/assign1-2-2.html

Nursing as a Profession

Is Nursing a Profession? Absolutely!

http://nursing.about.com/library/blprof.htm

Great outline---agree with Laura 100%

PROFESSIONALISM, CARING, AND NURSING, 1990

http://itsa.ucsf.edu/~eliotf/Professionalism,_Caring,_a.html

Canada:

Operating Roon Nurses Assoc- Professionalism

http://www.ornac.ca/articles/mar94-2.htm

Standards for Nursing Practice - Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia, Canada

Includes 6 standards:

Standard 1: Responsibility And Accountability

Standard 2: Specialized Body of Knowledge

Standard 3: Competent Application of Knowledge

Standard 4: Code of Ethics

Standard 5: Provision of Service to the Public

Standard 6: Self-Regulation

http://www.rnabc.bc.ca/stndrds/stan2000.htm

Saudia Arabia: King Faisal Hospital

http://www.kfshrc.edu.sa/nursing/html/nursing_practice_model.html

TOWARDS NURSING PROFESSIONALISM

http://hunnybee.com/nursing/nursingprof.html

Slide Show: Professionalism & History

http://www.csubak.edu/~bfleming/Nurse241/Prof_Nursing.ppt

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 30, 2003