Black Ch. 3 (Nursing's Pathway to Professionalism)

The nurse professor has just given a lecture on the process of professionalization. Which statement by one of the students indicates that the teaching has been effective? "Practitioners performed part-time work in their discipline." "A code of ethics was established first and foremost." "After determining work standards, legal protection was established." "Licensure was obtained after all other steps have been met."

"After determining work standards, legal protection was established." - The earliest learned professions generally followed a sequential development. *First, licensed practitioners performed full-time work in their discipline. They determined work standards, created a body of knowledge and sought legal protection. Finally, they established a code of ethics.*

The nurse professor is giving a lecture on autonomy. Which statement indicates that the teaching has been effective? "Autonomy guides nurses in ethical decision making." "Autonomy means that the nurse has control over his/her own practice." "Autonomy means that nurses are motivated by service." "Autonomy means that nurses consider their work an important component of their lives."

"Autonomy means that the nurse has control over his/her own practice." - *Autonomy means that nurses have control over their own practice, and are responsible for their practice.* - *Altruism* means to be motivated by service to others, and to consider work an important part of one's life. - The code of conduct guides nurses in ethical decision making.

The nurse professor has just provided a lecture on the influence of Esther Lucille Brown. Which statement by one of the nursing indicates that the teaching has been effective? "Brown called for nursing education to be based in colleges and universities." "Brown called for nursing education to be shortened, due to a critical nursing shortage." "Brown called for nursing education to be hospital based." "Brown called for student nurses to work as hospital staff during their education."

"Brown called for nursing education to be based in colleges and universities." - Esther Lucille Brown (1948) wrote Nursing for the Future, which called for nursing education to be based in colleges in universities. - Brown did not call for nursing education to be shortened, or for student nurses to work as hospital staff during their education.

The nurse is listening to a lecture about The Magnet Recognition Program. Which statement indicates that the teaching has been effective? "20% of US hospitals have obtained Magnet status." "Magnet status is given to hospitals that serve the most patients." "Magnet status recognizes nursing excellence." "Magnet status is given for hospitals that retain physicians."

"Magnet status recognizes nursing excellence." - *The Magnet Recognition Program is a credentialing demonstrating organizational recognition of nursing excellence.* - *The Magnet credential was established to recognize hospitals that attract and retain nurses, acknowledging that this achieves better patient outcomes.* - Approximately *7%* of registered US hospitals have obtained Magnet status.

The nurse case manager is discussing the difference between a profession and an occupation with a nursing student. Which statement should the nurse case manager make, to accurately define a profession? "Professionals will often change career paths." "Professionals are often motivated by reward." "Professionals often feel that they are called to their profession." "Professionals do not consider their profession as an integral part of their lives."

"Professionals often feel that they are called to their profession." - Professionals often feel that their profession is their calling. They often do not change career paths, they are not motivated by reward, and they feel as though their profession is an integral part of their lives.

The student is listening to a lecture on nursing standards of practice. Which statement by the student indicates that the teaching has been effective? "Standards of practice determine appropriate pay rates for nurses." "Standards of practice determine the hours in which nurse's work." "Standards of practice determine responsibilities to which nurses are held accountable." "Standards of practice determine holiday rotations."

"Standards of practice determine responsibilities to which nurses are held accountable." - *The nursing scope and standards of practice establish standards to improve the health and well-being of all recipients of nursing care, and to establish the responsibilities to which nurses are held accountable.* - The standards of practice do not determine appropriate pay rates, hours of work or holiday rotations.

The nurse educator has given a lecture on the difference between the term "profession" and "occupation." Which statement(s) by one of the students indicates that the teaching has been effective? *Select all that apply.* "The words profession and occupation are often used interchangeably." "The word profession means a calling or vocation." "The two words mean the same thing in nursing." "The word occupation is defined as a person's regular work." "An occupation is a calling to work that possess characteristics of expertise."

"The words profession and occupation are often used interchangeably." "The word profession means a calling or vocation." "The word occupation is defined as a person's regular work." - The term occupation is often used interchangeably with the term profession, but their definitions differ. Collins English Dictionary (2015) defines occupation as "a person's regular work or profession; job or principal activity." In this discussion, Huber's (2000) definition of profession is used to make the distinction between an occupation and a *profession: "a calling, vocation, or form of employment that provides a needed service to society and possesses characteristics of expertise, autonomy, long academic preparation, commitment, and responsibility"* - *A profession is a calling to work that possess characteristics of expertise.*

The American Nurses Association (ANA)

- The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the official voice of nursing and therefore is the primary advocate for nursing interests in general. - *The ANA is a federation of state nurses associations that all RNs are eligible to join.* Membership in a state nurses association automatically conveys membership in the ANA. - According to the bylaws, *the purposes of the ANA are to work for the improvement of health standards and the availability of health care services for all people, to foster high standards of nursing, and to stimulate and promote the professional development of nurses and advance their economic and general welfare.* - The ANA continues to be limited by the relatively low percentage of nurses (less than 10%) who belong to the ANA and their constituent state nurses associations. This represents significant political influence that is yet unrealized for the profession. Pic: The Wheel of Professionalism in nursing.

Which actions can the nurse take to demonstrate collegiality? *Select all that apply.* Refuse to mentor nursing students because of short staffing. Share the latest nursing research with colleagues. Become an active member of professional organizations. Assist researchers with data gathering. Publish in professional literature.

2,3,4,5 - *Collegiality is an important aspect of professionalism in nursing. Acts of collegiality include, but are not limited to: sharing the latest research with colleagues, become an active member of professional organizations, assist researchers with data gathering and publish in professional literature.* - *The promotion of a supportive and healthy work environment, cooperation, and recognition of interdependence among members of the nursing profession is the essence of collegiality* - Refusing to mentor a nursing student does not demonstrate collegiality.

Using Flexner's criteria of professionalism, which attributes make nursing a profession? *Select all that apply.* Is basically physical and is accompanied by a high level of personal responsibility. Is practical, in addition to being theoretical. Has practitioners who are motivated by altruism. Has practitioners who are responsive to public interest. Has a strong internal organization of members.

2,3,4,5 - *Flexner's criterion stipulates that a profession is practical, in addition to being theoretical.* - *A profession also has practitioners who are motivated by altruism, are responsive to public interest and has a strong internal organization of members.* - A profession is basically *intellectual, as opposed to physical*, and is accompanied by a high level of personal responsibility.

How can the nurse manager take the first step to reduce the barriers to professionalism in nursing? Remain positive and ignore the barriers. Encourage employees to work hard. Identify the barriers to professionalism in nursing. Reward employees who go above and beyond.

Identify the barriers to professionalism in nursing. - The first step to reducing barriers to professionalism is to identify what those barriers are. Once the barriers have been identified, the nurse manager can begin taking steps to reduce them.

Profession definition

Profession: "a calling, vocation, or form of employment that provides a needed service to society and possesses characteristics of expertise, autonomy, long academic preparation, commitment, and responsibility" *Professions usually evolved from occupations* that originally consisted of tasks but developed more specialized educational pathways and publicly legitimized status. *A profession is different from an occupation in at least two major ways—preparation and commitment.*