Professionalism in Nursing

jjjoy, LPN · Oct 3, 2007

Could you elaborate on your assignment? is the assignment to ask experienced nurses their views on these questions and then write about that? is the general assignment about professionalism and you came up with those questions to ask experienced nurses?

Going on a tangent -

Can I rant a little here? What's the point of ASKING a nursing student to describe or elaborate on professionalism? The student doesn't have any professional experience in nursing and may not have much background knowledge about professionalism in general.

It would make more sense to TEACH nursing students what professionalism is (or at least how it's generally understood) and how they might enhance their own professionalism as nurses - such as dressing professionally, continuing to learn, getting involved in professional organizations, etc.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2007

Hi, I just have a few questions. Im a first year student who is in need of help with the following information for an essay on professionalism. Any help is greatly appreciated.
The questions are:
How can nurses make a difference?
What is your most significant achievement in professional nursing?
What leadership characteristics do you consider to be essential for a professional nurse today?
Im looking for personal opinion answers mostly but anything will help.
Thank you very much.

A nurse can make a difference by saving lifes through skills and knowledge

To be able to teach student nurses, and receive positive feedback from the experience.

A non-judgemental individual who sees the whole picture of any situation, to be approachable by her employees.

:welcome:

ForzaItalia · Oct 3, 2007

Could you elaborate on your assignment? is the assignment to ask experienced nurses their views on these questions and then write about that? is the general assignment about professionalism and you came up with those questions to ask experienced nurses?
Going on a tangent -
Can I rant a little here? What's the point of ASKING a nursing student to describe or elaborate on professionalism? The student doesn't have any professional experience in nursing and may not have much background knowledge about professionalism in general.
It would make more sense to TEACH nursing students what professionalism is (or at least how it's generally understood) and how they might enhance their own professionalism as nurses - such as dressing professionally, continuing to learn, getting involved in professional organizations, etc.

yes the assignment is to ask experienced nurses and write about what i learned.

jjjoy, LPN · Oct 3, 2007

I'm going to be nitpicky here... is this essay/class about "professionalism in nursing" or "professional issues in nursing"? The instructor may not even be clear on this, so you may not have an answer, but it sounds more like the lattter as opposed to the former.

Nitpick over.

Advice: start a new thread and give it a title that more clearly indicates the content - such as "Need your views on professional nursing" or "Experienced nurses - questions for class assignment"

I'm not answering only because I don't consider myself an "experienced nurse" at this point.

Good luck with your assignment!

time4meRN · Oct 3, 2007

Hi, I just have a few questions. Im a first year student who is in need of help with the following information for an essay on professionalism. Any help is greatly appreciated.
The questions are:
How can nurses make a difference?
What is your most significant achievement in professional nursing?
What leadership characteristics do you consider to be essential for a professional nurse today?
Im looking for personal opinion answers mostly but anything will help.
Thank you very much.

A nurse makes a difference by saving lives,aiding in comfort - education of pt's family and communities. A nurse can make a difference in so many areas within humanity that they are impossible to list.

Most significant achievement: saving a life when needed. I can have all the degrees in the world, work in upper management, get good pres-gainy scores for my work....but the most significant achievement is helping another human even if it means they can go on after a loved ones death without feeling like they never had a chance to say the things they wanted to their loved one. : catching a mistake or a change in status of a critical pt thus saving their life. Speaking up during critical care rounds with the correct answer when the residents etc. are lost. :

Leadership is not about stats or how well one presents themself in a Medical Board meeting or how many degrees a nurse has after her name: To me , leadership ability can be defined by how well a nurse reacts to stressful situations. Meaning: if the nurse has experience and can lead a team that may be raveling at the edges is able to redirect the team to produce a good out come for a pt. Then , that nurse is a leader. If a nurse can lead a team while multitasking and being yelled at by several DR's , while family are upset , yelling crying etc... new nurses working that have little idea of what to do, x-ray standing at the door, passers-bye looking on etc... and still keep cool, and assist the staff to keep their cool. THen you have a leader. After dealing with this situation on a daily basis , the medical boards, JACHO, Pres- Gainy, administrators and all of the other "advanced degree" important people want-to-be's, look like kittens. So , I guess in short I'm saying it's not about degree's, although those with advanced degrees may argue, they are not the almighty leaders they make themselves out to be.

burnoutward, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2007

Hi, I just have a few questions. Im a first year student who is in need of help with the following information for an essay on professionalism. Any help is greatly appreciated.
The questions are:
How can nurses make a difference?
What is your most significant achievement in professional nursing?
What leadership characteristics do you consider to be essential for a professional nurse today?
Im looking for personal opinion answers mostly but anything will help.
Thank you very much.

1) I have to say advocation, political involvement, support of the profession, and remembering even in these corporate times, that is a person in a bed and not just a disease.

2) If you are still in school, I do not feel it is right to ask that question yet. I can say personally never losing sight of myself, and surviving nursing school and NCLEX. Then again I am also still new.

3) Leadership needs to stop and realize they are nurses too. I recently interviewed with a facility where a nurse who manages payrolls, budgets, hiring/firing, STILL wears scrubs to work and helps her staff. That gives them the true knowledge of what the real problems are on the floor.

Respect. I get so angry when a nurse dismissing another area of nursing. Even if you do not understand it or why it is around, it is never anyones place to dismiss another nurse's job.

Care/Compassion. Think before you say it. Obese patients and the multiple-suicide attempts clients are ill. They are YOUR patient, they are coming to you for help voluntarily/involuntarily. If you cannot approach that person with care and compassion, then discuss with your charge about switching off. Sitting down with yourself and addressing why this is a problem or a certain kind of patient you are unable to take care of is a good idea as well.

Safety. A nurse who practices the 5 rights impresses me far more than a nurse in a hurry to get through her day. Prioritization is importation as well, but being able to present that to the patients with grace and not making one feeling ignored.

Advocating our young nurses. As a younger nurses I have been chomped at several times, but luckily I have been nurtured by some incredible nurses who have encouraged me to grow. Those nurses furthered me along while other nurses I will use as examples of what not to do.

Finally looking pass the corporate and returning to traditional values. It is hard to do, but I did not become a nurse to save a corporation money and go under budget by rushing patients out the door. I became a nurse because I wanted to make a difference and touch the lives of people. I am idealistic, but that is ok.

My idea of professionalism in a nurse is someone who can remember why he/she became a nurse in the first place. It is about how we carry ourselves as nurses and present ourselves. Well, that was just my idea, but anyway good luck!:monkeydance:

ForzaItalia · Oct 4, 2007

I'm going to be nitpicky here... is this essay/class about "professionalism in nursing" or "professional issues in nursing"? The instructor may not even be clear on this, so you may not have an answer, but it sounds more like the lattter as opposed to the former.
Nitpick over.
Advice: start a new thread and give it a title that more clearly indicates the content - such as "Need your views on professional nursing" or "Experienced nurses - questions for class assignment"
I'm not answering only because I don't consider myself an "experienced nurse" at this point.
Good luck with your assignment!

Well, jjjoy, its an essay on professionalism in nursing...basically different views on waht profressionalism is to nurses and how they portray it. I understand ur questioning....thanks for the insight.

also, thanks to everyone who responded and to those who respond in the future.

Thank you all.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2007

Nurses can make a difference by being a patient advocate. A patient advocate informs all other health caregivers involved in their care about the patients personal needs and goals. The nurse has the most contact time with patients of all the health professionals involved in their care. The nurse also usually has the most contact time with family members. Promote continuity in assignments when possible, you can continue your own teaching that way for more than one shift.

My most significant achievement is setting an example for my co-workers. I am a very calm person and I don't usually get cranky with my patients or co-workers when things get overwhelming. I do let my charge nurse know that they have tossed me much more than one nurse can be expected to handle. I keep on trudging through the overload priortizing as I go and continue to keep contact with all my patients.

Leadership skills should involve teaching your patients everything you can and teaching new nurses how to teach. When you begin the teaching process with your patient, that patient will continue to ask other nurses, doctors, therapists and their family members appropriate questions.