NURSING

AS
PROFESSIO
N
MS.PRITEEKA
Nursing tutor
 DEFINITION OF
NURSING
 Harmer and Henderson defined nursing as “that service to the individual that helps
him to attain or maintain a healthy state of mind or body; or where a return to
health is not possible, the relief of pain and discomfort”.
 Bertha Harmer wrote that “the spirit, the art and the knowledge or science of
nursing are the three essential elements of nursing”. Harmer explained that the
application of the scientific method and scientific spirit was necessary if nursing was to be
an applied science.
 According to Clara Weeks (1899), nursing includes not only the “execution of the
physician’s order”, but also the “administration of food and medicine, and the
more personal care of the patient, attention to the condition of the sick-room,
its warmth, cleanliness, and ventilation, the careful observation and reporting
of symptoms and the prevention of contagion.”
 Florence Nightingale defined nursing as “the act of utilizing the environment of the
patient to assist him in his recovery”.
 American Nurses Association defined nursing as a “direct goal oriented and
adaptable to service the needs of the individual, the family and community
during health and illness.”
 CRITERIA OF A PROFESION
Service Orientation: An orientation of the individual towards service, either to
a community or to an organization differentiates nursing from an occupation
pursued primarily for profit. Many consider altruism (selfless concern for others)
the hallmark of a profession. Nursing has a tradition of service to others. This
service, however, must be guided by certain rules, policies, or codes of ethics
Intellectual: Nursing professional should have adequate intellectual level so as
to deal smartly with necessary care of patients.
Autonomy: Autonomy is an important part of any profession, which allows an
individual to take prompt decision regarding matter concerning to health of an
individual client.
Ongoing Research: Increasing research in nursing is contributing to nursing
practice. Nursing research has focused on practice- related issues, studies were
often related to the nature if the knowledge base underlying nursing practice.
Code of ethics: Nurses have traditionally placed a high value on the worth and
dignity of others the nursing profession requires integrity if its members; that is
a member is expected to do what is considered right regardless of the personal
cost. Ethical codes changes as the needs and values of society changes.
Nursing has developed its own codes of ethics and in most instance has set up
means to monitor the professional.
Personal Development: Members of a profession should be able to work with
a sense of knowing that they are free to make their decision in regard to
professional tasks to improve work and apply new ideas and methods. Any
profession should provide an opportunity to have personal development in
profession.
Economic Security: Any professional person should have adequate amount of
money to pay for all essentials in life and it is of great importance for all human
beings. Any profession should also provide economic security to the
professional, although this may not be put as first to service but it is essential
for all human beings.
Essential: The services of any profession should be importance to the society
or community. The services of a profession should be in human and social
welfare, otherwise adequate support will not be provided.
 CHARACTERSTICS OF A PROFESSION
A basic profession requires an extended education of its members, as well as
a basic liberal foundation.
A profession has a theoretical body of knowledge leading to defined skills,
abilities and norms.
A profession constantly enlarges the body of knowledge.
Members of a profession have autonomy in decision- making and practice.
Profession develops, evaluates and uses theory as a basis for practice.
The profession has a code of ethics.
Members of professions are involved in research activities.
Members participate in professional organization.
 EVOLUTION OF NURSING
PROFESSION
Historyshows that nursing always developed more rapidly in a society where
women were given more freedom and it is also closely associated with the
development of medicine.
PREHISTORIC PERIOD: In prehistoric period, main interest was in mysteries
of life, birth, disease and death. Man lived close to the nature and it leads in a
form of worship. Disease appeared to be associated with sorcery, magic,
breaking a tattoo and bodily invasion by a spirit. The man was treated by
starving, beating, nauseous medicines, loud noise, magic, ceremonies and
sudden fright etc. It was believed that the evil spirit will leave the body and
symptoms will cured.
ANCIENT TIMES: In ancient times, the earliest literature of India consist of
the Sanskrit Vedas or sacred books which are sometimes regarded as the
oldest writing in existence. ‘Sushruta’ was known as the father of surgery in
India. The Hindu medical system is primitive and entirely indigenous or was
influenced by Greece and through Egypt. The king Ashoka was the first person
EARLY CHRISTIAN ERA: Pre- Christian times were influenced by various
religious beliefs they accepted ease as punishment.
EARLY- LATE MIDDLE AGES: It is a dark age in the history of nursing. This
era began with fall of the mighty Roman Empire. Roman armies were
disbanded, roads and bridges were destroyed and roman authorities' shifted
their capitals.
MODERN NURSING: Development and advancement in science and
medicine has increased interest for better nursing services and nursing
training. The era of modern nursing started with the work of Military Services,
Florence Nightingale during Crimean War (1854-56). She observed the life of
poor and tired to relive the sick. Nursing appeared to her as the field in which
she could do the best.
 EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION OF A
PROFESIONAL NURSE
The increasing needs of patients and their more complex needs for care in
community and home settings demand a higher level of education. Preparation of
nurses was necessary.
Nursesfrom all educational backgrounds play an important role in providing safe and
compassionate care to the patients in all health care settings.
There are six levels of nursing education in India.
1. Multi Purpose Health Worker Female Training (ANM or MPHW-F)
2. Female Health Supervisors Training (HV or MPHS-F)
3. General Nursing And Midwifery (GNM)
4. B.Sc. Nursing
5. M.Sc. Nursing
6. M.Phil. and Ph.D.
CHARACTERSTICS OF A PROFESIONAL
NURSE
 ROLES OF PROFESIONAL NURSE
1. Caregiver/ Care provider:
• the traditional and most essential role
• functions as nurturer, comforter, provider
• “mothering actions” of the nurse
• provides direct care and promotes comfort of client
• activities involves knowledge and sensitivity to what matters and what is important to clients
• show concern for client welfare and acceptance of the client as a person
2. Teacher:
• provides information and helps the client to learn or acquire new knowledge and technical
skills
• encourages compliance with prescribed therapy.
• promotes healthy lifestyles
• interprets information to the client
3. Counselor:
• helps
client to recognize and cope with stressful psychologic or social problems; to
develop an improve interpersonal relationships and to promote personal growth
• provides emotional, intellectual to and psychologic support
• focuseson helping a client to develop new attitudes, feelings and behaviors rather
than promoting intellectual growth.
• encourages the client to look at alternative behaviors recognize the choices and
develop a sense of control.
4. Change agent
• initiate changes or assist clients to make modifications in themselves or in the system
of care.
5. Client advocate:
• involves concern for and actions in behalf of the client to bring about a change.
• promotes what is best for the client, ensuring that the client’s needs are met and
protecting the client’s right.
• provides explanation in clients language and support clients decisions.
6. Manager:
• makes decisions, coordinates activities of others, allocate resource
• evaluate care and personnel
• plans,
give direction, develop staff, monitors operations, give
the rewards fairly and represents both staff and administrations as needed.
7. Researcher:
• participates in identifying significant researchable problems
• participates in scientific investigation and must be a consumer of research
findings
• must be aware of the research process, language of research, a sensitive to
issues related to protecting the rights of human subjects.
EXPANDED ROLE AS OF THE NURSE
1. Clinical Specialists- is a nurse who has completed a master’s degree in
specialty and has considerable clinical expertise in that specialty. She provides
expert care to individuals, participates in educating health care professionals
and ancillary, acts as a clinical consultant and participates in research.
2. Nurse Practitioner- is a nurse who has completed either as certificate
program or a master’s degree in a specialty and is also certified by the
appropriate specialty organization. She is skilled at making nursing
assessments, performing P. E., counseling, teaching and treating minor and self-
limiting illness.
3. Nurse-midwife– a nurse who has completed a program in
midwifery; provides prenatal and postnatal care and delivers babies to woman
with uncomplicated pregnancies.
4. Nurse anesthetist- a nurse who completed the course of study in an
anesthesia school and carries out pre-operative status of clients.
5. Nurse Educator- A nurse usually with advanced degree, who beaches in
clinical or educational settings, teaches theoretical knowledge, clinical skills
and conduct research.
6. Nurse Entrepreneur– a nurse who has an advanced degree, and
manages health-related business.
7. Nurse administrator– a nurse who functions at various levels of
management in health settings; responsible for the management and
administration of resources and personnel involved in giving patient care.