NURSING PROFESSION AND PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

Profession

  • A profession is a specialized occupation or vocation that requires intensive education and training, often culminating in a first professional degree and subsequent licensure by a regulatory body.
  • Unlike trades or general occupations, professions are characterized by formal qualifications, ethical standards, and legal recognition.
  • It must be service oriented and should try to provide personal development and economic security to its members.
  • “A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards, possess special knowledge and skills, and apply this knowledge in the interest of others.” (WHO, 1985) .
  • “A profession is a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal education.” (Oxford Dictionary) .
  • “A profession is a vocation requiring advanced training and usually involving mental rather than manual work, as teaching, engineering, especially medicine, law.” (Webster 1989) .

Formation of a Profession 

A profession typically emerges when an occupation formalizes through:

1. Development of formal qualifications based on education and examinations.

2. Establishment of regulatory bodies with authority to admit, supervise, and discipline members.

3. Gaining of monopoly rights and legal recognition.

 

Difference between Profession and Occupation

Profession

Occupation

It is a type of occupation that requires specialized education, training and ethical standards.

An occupation is any activity through which a person earns a livelihood.

It requires advanced education, formal qualifications and special training.

It may or may not require formal education and training.

Involves high-level intellectual skills and expertise.

May involve manual, technical or clerical skills.

The main aim is to provide service to society along with earning income.

The main aim is to earn income for personal livelihood.

It is governed by a professional code of conduct and ethics.

Usually not governed by a formal code of ethics.

Professionals often have more decision-making power and independence in their work.

Occupations usually follow instructions or supervision.

Examples: Doctor, Nurse, Teacher, Lawyer, Engineer.

Examples: Shopkeeper, Driver, Farmer, Mechanic.

 

Professionalism

  • Professionalism is demonstration of high level of personal, ethical and high level of skill characteristics of a member of a profession.
  • It refers to the conduct, goals, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person.
  • Professionalization is a dynamic process through which occupations change criteria crucial characteristics in the direction of a profession (Vollmer and Mills, 1966).

Fundamental Characteristics and Criteria

According to Abraham Flexner (1915):

  • It is basically intellectual, with high level of responsibility.
  • It is learned in nature, as it is based on body of knowledge.
  • It is practical oriented, rather than theoretical.
  • It is technique, taught through educational discipline.
  • Well organized internally.
  • Motivated by altruism.

According to William Shepherd:

  • It must satisfy social needs and be based upon well established and socially accepted scientific principles.
  • It must demand adequate pre-professional and cultural training.
  • It must demand a systematized and specialize body of knowledge.
  • It must give evidence of needed skills which the public does not possess.
  • It must have developed a scientific technique which is the result of experience.

Nursing as a Profession

  • Florence Nightingale: “nursing is the care which puts a person in the best possible condition for nature to restore or preserve health, to prevent or to cure disease or injury.”.
  • Virginia Henderson: “Nursing is primarily assisting individual (sick or well) in the performance of those activities contributing to health, or its recovery (or peaceful death)...”.
  • American Nurses Association: “Nursing is defined as the process of protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of different illnesses and injuries...”.
  • Nursing is identified as a profession based on a systematic body of knowledge, standardized formal higher education, and commitment to service.

Professional Values of Nursing

  • Strong commitment to service: Responsible for assessing and promoting health and contributing to wellbeing.
  • Belief in the dignity and worth of each person: Acting in the best interest of the client regardless of nationality, race, age, or status.
  • Altruism: Being considerate of the well-being of patients and colleagues without expecting something in return.
  • Commitment to education: Continuing education is needed to maintain and expand the nurse’s level of competence.
  • Autonomy: Developing the ability to assure independent function.
  • Specialized body of knowledge: A specialized body of knowledge called ‘nursing science’ was compiled through research.
  • Evidence based practice (EBP): Nursing interventions are based on research data that demonstrates they are successful.
  • Accountability: Acknowledging actions and learning from mistakes.
  • Trustworthiness: Establishing trust helps nurses better understand patient needs and reduces patient stress.
  • Compassion: Helps patients feel respected through listening and addressing concerns kindly.

Philosophy

  • The word philosophy is derived from Greek word “phileo” (to love) and “sophia” (wisdom); therefore, it means search for or love for wisdom.
  • Philosophy is the study of the principles of human behavior and reasoning about what we really know of the universe and ourselves.

Definitions:

  • Cicero: Philosophy is the mother of all arts and the true medicine of mind.
  • Alfred Weber: Philosophy is a search for comprehensive views of nature.
  • Fitche: Philosophy is the science of knowledge.
  • Raymond: An unceasing effort to discover the general truth that lies behind particular facts.

Nursing Philosophy

Individual vs. Global: Individual philosophies reflect a nurse's personal values, while global philosophies belong to organizations like hospitals or colleges.

Steps for Writing the Nursing Philosophy:

  • Determine what first interested you in nursing.
  • Figure out why nursing is important.
  • List your strengths as a nurse.
  • Outline personal values (integrity, service, accountability, etc.).
  • Consider the positive impact you want to have.
  • Reevaluate the philosophy as you advance in your career.

Basic Philosophies Influencing Nursing Profession

1. Asceticism (Early centuries–1890):

  • Focused on self-denial and sacrificing comfort for the sake of God or religion.
  • Nurses were devoted only to patient care and did not care for self.
  • Present values: 24-hour nursing duty, self-discipline, and devotion to duty.

2. Romanticism (1890–1940):

  • Emphasized emotional self-awareness as a condition to improve society.
  • Focused on the individual and raised educational status.
  • The title “The Lady with the Lamp” given to Florence Nightingale is a product of this era.
  • Present values: Loyalty to patient, visitors, and physicians.

3. Pragmatism (1940s onwards):

  • Thinking of or dealing with problems in a practical way rather than using theory.
  • Influenced by World War II and the need for more manpower and various nursing categories.
  • Specialized units (ICU, Emergency, Psychiatry) emerged during this time.

4. Humanism / Humanistic Existence:

  • Focuses on a holistic approach, viewing humans as biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual beings.
  • Nursing belongs to the humanistic disciplines of science and provides service to the individual, family, and community.
  • Nurses become more accountable, with increased decision-making and autonomy.
  • Present values: Holistic care, treating the patient as a unique human being