Is nursing defined as a profession, practice or simply as work?

[2B_RN_2008]

hi there everyone,

i am a nursing student at the university of colorado health science center. one of my current courses is role development in professional nursing practice. this week one or our readings posed an interesting question, to define nursing. should nursing be defined as a profession, a practice, or as work? i found this to be difficult to answer the following is what i have posted in my online course. i am hopeful to get some additional insight from experienced nurses and their prospective. if anyone is willing to he me find a better understanding on this point it would be much appreciated.

the following is what i have already submitted to my class:

how do liaschenko and peter define nursing as profession, as practice and as work?

i believe that liaschenko and peter are defining nursing as work. there are statements within this paper that show that in the past that nursing has been defined as a profession or as a practice. liaschenko and peter explain their rational as to why nursing is not a profession or a practice. they go on to introduce a definition of nursing as work rather than a profession or practice stating that the definitions prior to work are to limiting or inaccurate. i believe that they like their predecessors are attempting to categorize nursing as a single definable inadequate definition. i am not sure that there is a single word be it work, profession, or practice that would be encompassing enough to be termed a definition for nursing. i hold the same belief as olga ellis stated in her posting that any definition of nursing should “include and combine such words as a calling, profession, practice, work, science, ethics, and pshycology of relationships.”

one question i have is why is there a push, need, importance to define nursing as one particular word which dose not seem to accomplish the ideal of providing a meaning in which society can then gain a greater understanding of what nursing actually is.

thanks for you time

[fronkey bean]

Yes b/c, as we all know only the poor are dedicated and caring. I wonder if that guy ever listens to himself talk.:trout:

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Nursing is just something that occupies my time in between rounds of golf.

[Marvie]

In a brief comment:

Work= anyone walking off the street applying for a job position and possibly being hired.

Practice=A habit, drill, or training excersize like someone taking a short course, getting a certificate and then being considered qualified.

Profession=Involves specialized knowledge of subject, field, science is applied. Involves prolonged academic training and formal qualifications. Regulated by a liscencing body and enforcing adherance to an ethical code of conduct.

NURSING IS A PROFESSION.

[danh3190]

I'm in a diploma RN program and we had brief discussions of profession vs practice vs job in our first Intro course before we got into more substantial topics.

My question is, do BSN programs spend a lot of time worrying about such stuff? I'm worried because I'll probably be in an RN to BSN program within the next year or two. I remember how much I hated the few weeks of such political/activist discussion in my Intro class and I'd hate to have to have a whole course of it! I'm hoping the BSN program will have more info on things like pathology and specialized areas of care etc.

[mak2]

I cant beleive this question is still around.

[Marvie]

I'm in a diploma RN program and we had brief discussions of profession vs practice vs job in our first Intro course before we got into more substantial topics.

My question is, do BSN programs spend a lot of time worrying about such stuff? I'm worried because I'll probably be in an RN to BSN program within the next year or two. I remember how much I hated the few weeks of such political/activist discussion in my Intro class and I'd hate to have to have a whole course of it! I'm hoping the BSN program will have more info on things like pathology and specialized areas of care etc.

I personally do not have the answer to that question, but it is important for nurses to be active in the political discussions because things like that do affect their job and role in the world.We nurses must be more vocal in setting standards and not let others who know nothing or very little about nursing make up the rules for us.

[deeDawntee, RN]

For me one of the most important things that makes me a professional and not just someone who follows the Doctor's orders is that is it my responsibility to advocate for my patient and it is within my scope of practice to refuse to do something I consider to be unsafe for the patient.

Although I can't do much without a Dr's order, I am not required to follow orders no matter what. That makes me an independent thinker, a person with training and an ability to critically think that gives me not only the right but the responsibility to refuse. (Although, we have to document our butts off so we don't get into trouble.)

;)

[Miriam57RN]

I just thought it interesting that whereas my NYS RN license says on it: Registered Professional Nurse, my PA RN license says only: Registered Nurse.

[jjjoy, LPN]

For me one of the most important things that makes me a professional and not just someone who follows the Doctor's orders is that is it my responsibility to advocate for my patient and it is within my scope of practice to refuse to do something I consider to be unsafe for the patient.

Outside of the military, though, where are people expected to blindly follow orders even if they are clearly outside the norm and appear to be potentially harmful? Even then, soldiers are not supposed to follow orders that contradict known rules of engagement.

By this definition (using one's own judgement, advocating for clients, not blindly following orders), the pool of professionals is widened. I have no problem with that. Someone who is a CNA for 20 years is a professional in my book.

[island40]

This debate ties in with the minimum educational level for entry. If nursing is just work then a trade school will do, if it is a practice then a little college would be okay, if it is a profession then a professional degree is required. Interesting how we never wonder if an law is a profession or if medicine is a profession or if engeneering is a profession. Nursing has it's own body on knowledge but that is only one part of what is needed to form a profession.

I think a big problem is that nurses take offence to their career being referred to as less than a profession because they confuse this with behaving 'professionally.' Semantics are important.

[jjjoy, LPN]

I think a big problem is that nurses take offence to their career being referred to as less than a profession because they confuse this with behaving 'professionally.'

Good point. Just because a career may not be "professional" in the traditional sense of doctoring and lawyering, that doesn't mean a person is "unprofessional."

And the term "professional" has many different nuances and uses, regardless of the official webster's definition. A professional plumber or ball player may have no formal academic credentials. Is an entry-level software engineer who grinds out code in a cubicle as professional as an independent trial lawyer? If we concede that being a chef is a profession, what about a short-order cook? What about a short-order cook with decades of experience? That person could probably "cook circles" around most world-famous chef if they were put head to head in a busy coffee shop.

How about waitresses? Sure, it may not take long to learn and understand the basics, but to be able to perform the job adequately on a busy day is not a skill to be taken for granted. And to be able to perform expertly, keeping orders straight, fussy customers satisfied, dodge through a crowded dining room without spilling anything, demands experience. You can't have just anyone fill in at the last minute at a busy restaurant and have a successful business.

Granted, usually these job roles don't have people's lives directly in their hands, but every time we let someone get into a car and drive, we are giving them ample opportunity to take lives if they aren't careful and vigilant. If nurses are careful and vigilant and follow policy and use their training, their patients should be safe. But are they MORE professional than any other skilled worker? (yeah, I'm being a bit of devil's advocate here).

[leslymill]

I believe that we are fighting for the right to be called a profession, although we lack the respect and monetary rewards that should go with that. Plumbers make as much or more.....

We don't respect ourselves when half of us think we don't deserve a lunch break. Which is state law.