Is Nursing a Profession?

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Hi Everyone...

I am in my last semester of nursing school and thought this was the best place to answer my question.....

Is Nursing a Profession?

I have to present for my final class and attempt to answer this question. I know how I answer this question but would really appreciate any comments, thoughts, etc. that my fellow nurses would have on this subject.

Thank you!

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I have moved your thread to the Nursing Student Assistance Forum. Welcome ot the BB. Please let us know if you need anything.

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You might try a search of this site. I'm pretty sure we've had discussions about that topic in the past. Good luck!

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Specializes in Home health, Med/Surg.

YES, nursing is a profession. Nursing requires a specific set of skills and knowledge. It encompasses some of the knowledge of other professions (RT, PT, OT, ST, etc) yet contains knowledge and skills separate from them. It is one of the only professions that does not require a minimum of a Bachelors degree for entry level. That is not a bash on non BSNs, just a simple fact. I respect all nurses!! Many people mistake us for the servant of the MD when in fact we are independantly practicing as RNs within the scope of our practice. Just because a doctor orders something doesn't mean I have to carry it out. I carry out orders (or refuse to carry them out) using the knowledge and skills specific to my profession. In fact a good MD will rely on nurses to catch problems and point out changes that need to be made. Look up the dictionary definition of profession, that will help. Good luck in class.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

wikipedia says we are: a profession is an occupation that requires extensive training and the study and mastery of specialized knowledge, and usually has a professional association, ethical code and process of certification or licensing. examples are accounting, law, nursing, medicine, finance, the military, the clergy and engineering.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Yes, it is.

(Taking bets to see how long it will take someone to turn this into a bsn vs. adn or asn debate.)

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

allnurses search engine almost rivals google for topics discussed here.

check it out--located on the gold toolbar above each forum thread!

https://allnurses.com/forums/search.php

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Specializes in A little of this, a little of that.....

of course! illinois rn's have registered professional nurse on their license.....

"mac"

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Every RN is a Registered Professional Nurse. It's a profession, not a job. A job requires far fewer skills and training. A job can be filled by virtually anyone wishing to do it.

A profession requires extensive training and study, and mastery of the skills required in the competent completion of tasks.

A job does not require one to hold a license to perform that job. A profession does.

How's that? :)

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Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it...

:)

p.s. I completely believe that nursing is a profession in every sense of the word! It is not just a job that you show up and perform. It is a career in a profession that goes beyond the call of duty...

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Specializes in Step-down/tele, home care, corrections.

I had a disagreement with a nurse about this. She's married to a physician, and has some sort of inferiority complex about what she does. She feels that being a doctor is a profession, like a lawyer, but nursing is a trade. I asked her if she meant that being a physician is a profession, she saw where I was going with this, and blew up!! So, I plan on asking her again if I ever earn a DNP!

Steve

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

PA SBON Regulations for Registered Nurse:

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short Title.--This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Professional Nursing Law."

(1 amended Dec. 20, 1985, P.L.409, No.109)

Section 2. Definitions.--When used in this act, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context provides otherwise:

(1) The "Practice of Professional Nursing" means diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as casefinding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical regimens as prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist. The foregoing shall not be deemed to include acts of medical diagnosis or prescription of medical therapeutic or corrective measures, except as performed by a certified registered nurse practitioner acting in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Board. ((1) amended Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1567, No.206)

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=432883

Pa law states we are a profession with all the duties and rights of a professional.

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