FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
NURSING AS A PROFESSION
Dennis Cayabyab Padernilla, RN MN
Nursing as a Profession
Concepts of Profession
•Organization of occupational groups based on
application of special knowledge which establishes
its own rules and standards for the protection
of the public and the profession
Nursing as a Profession
Concepts of Profession
• Quality of work is of greater importance
in its own eyes the society than the economic
rewards they earn
• Serves all of society and not specific interest groups
• Altruistic rather than materialistic
Nursing as a Profession
Definition of Profession
Profession – occupation that requires
extensive
education or a calling that
requires
special knowledge, skills and
preparation
Nursing as a Profession
Definition of Profession
Professionalism – professional character, spirit, or
methods. Set of attributes, a
way
of life that implies responsibility
and commitment
Professionalization – process of becoming professional,
that is of acquiring characteristics
considered to be professional
Nursing as a Profession
Criteria of a Profession
Education
Theory/Body of Knowledge
Service
Autonomy
Code of Ethics
Ongoing Research
Professional Organization
Caring
Nursing as a Profession
Definition of Nursing
Florence Nightingale (1860)
The act of utilizing the environment of the patient to
assist him in his recovery
Nursing as a Profession
Definition of Nursing
Virginia Henderson (1966)
Nursing is primarily helping people (sick or well) in the
performance of those activities contributing to health,
or its recovery (or to a peaceful death) that they would
perform unaided if they had the necessary strength, will,
or knowledge. It is likewise the function of nurses to
help people gain independence as rapidly as possible.
THE WHO (1995) DEFINES NURSE AS:
"A person who, having formally admitted to a
nursing educational program, duly recognized in
the state in which is located, has successfully
completed the prescribed course of studies in
nursing and has acquired the requisite
qualifications to be registered and legally
licensed to practice nursing”.
Nursing as a Profession
Definition of Nursing
Canadian Nurses Association
(1987)
Nursing as a dynamic, caring, helping
relationship
in which the nurse assists the patient
to achieve
and obtain optimal health.
Nursing as a Profession
Definition of Nursing (CNA)
Nursing is caring
Nursing is an Art
Nursing is a science
Nursing is client-centered
Nursing is holistic
Nursing is adaptive
Nursing is concerned with health promotion,
health maintenance and health restoration
Nursing is a helping profession
Nursing as a Profession
Humanistic Caring
profes Holistic
sion
Science Nur
of Unique
health sing
Art of
Scientific knowledge care
Nursing as a Profession
Providing
presence Family care
Knowing
Maintaining
belief
Caring
Being with profession
Enabling
Comforting
Doing for
Spiritual caring
Listening
Knowing the client
Nursing as a Profession
Professional nursing is an art and a science
service
principles
Skillful care Well and ill
A professional nurse
education health and welfare KSA through education
of society and research
Characteristics and attributes of a
Professional Nurse
Quality/competence Self-directed
Able to make independent Responsible and accountable
and sound judgment for his/her actions
Committed to the spirit
of inquiry/research
Dedicated to improvement of life
Qualifications and Abilities of a
Professional Nurse
Respect for human dignity
Self-sacrifice
Fundamental values Strong sense of responsibility
Use concepts of psychology
Sense of Responsibility
Therapeutic relationship
Reality of spiritual values
Faith Aesthetic value
Knowledge Critical thinking
Qualifications and Abilities of a
Professional Nurse
Accepts/understands people of all color,
Religion and race
Appreciation/understanding of good health
Emotional balance
Appreciates high
Hardworking Standards of workmanship
Knows nursing well thus delivers excellent care
Personal Qualifications of a Nurse
Philosophy of Life
•Concerned with basic truths
•Must develop a personal philosophy of life
•Theories can be taught but not philosophy of life
or the philosophy of service
Good Personality
•Distinctive individual qualities
•Impression one makes on others
•Deeper traits that come from the heart
Personal Qualifications of a Nurse
How to develop good
personality
•Warmth of manner, ready smile,
sincere laugh and genuine interest in
others
•Complete sincerity
•Sympathetic grooming (neat hairstyle,
appropriate dress and make-up,
expressive hands, mindful of people
Components of Good Personality
1. Personal appearance
•Posture
•Grooming (hair, hygiene)
•Dress and uniform (personal dress, nurse’s uniform, cap)
2. Character
Justice
Prudence
•Values, what is inside you Fortitude
•Charity as a virtue Temperance
•(nurse is basically a good person)
Attributes of Character
Resourcefulness
Honesty
Judgment
Tolerance
Loyalty Moderation
Motivation Reliability
Components of Good Personality
3. Attitude
A manner of acting, thinking, or feeling that is indicated
by one’s response toward another person, situation
or experience.
8 Be – Attitudes of a Nurse
Acceptance Limit-setting
Helpfulness Sincerity
Friendliness Competence
Firmness
Permissiveness
Components of Good Personality
4. Charm
Voice Manner
Heart Intelligence
Poise
Nursing as a Profession
Recipients of Nursing
Consumer – user of a service
Patient – waiting for or undergoing medical treatment
Client – who engages the advice or services of
qualified providers
Scope of Nursing
Promoting Health and Wellness
Preventing Illness
Restoring Health
Care of the Dying
WEIDENBACH, 1964
Nursing as a
DELINEATION BETWEEN MEDICINE AND NURSING: Profession
The physician’s role is to
treat the patient’s
primary condition.
The nurse’s role is to
treat the patient’s
response to this
condition.
FIELDS OF
NURSING
Institutional/Hospital Nursing
▪ nurses are working in the hospitals,
nursing homes, and home for the aged.
(biggest field)
Advantages:
▪ There is always a supervisor whom one
can consult if problems exist.
▪ Nurses are updated with new trends in
medicine.
▪ They undergo rotation to different units and have a
chance to determine their special area.
▪ They have an eight-hour, and a forty-hour week duty.
▪ They have a chance to get promoted compared to
private nurses.
▪ Salary increase are given periodically.
▪ They are considered an important member of the
health team.
Disadvantages:
▪ There is a great possibility of understaffing.
▪ Because of the bulk of work, some staff nurses do not
have time to improve their skills, routines.
▪ Administrative problems and overwork may tend to
dissatisfy the staff nurse.
Community Health Nursing
▪ also called Public Health Nurse
▪ a nurse who works in the community
▪ RHU, MHU, CHU
Advantages:
▪ The focus is only on family and community health
rather than on an individual basis.
▪ It gives the nurse a better perspective of the health
condition of the community.
▪ It maximizes efforts to improvise.
▪ Focus of care is more on educational and preventive
aspects.
Disadvantages:
▪ Cases found in public health nursing are limited
mostly to chronic and communicable diseases.
▪ There are more hazards in public health than in
hospital nursing - dog bites
▪ There are no fixed hours of work - you are on duty day
or night
▪ Some claim that PHN is not exciting.
▪ The PHN is not a place for introverts.
▪ There is no immediate supervisor to consult in case of
emergency.
School Nursing
▪ must like children a lot
▪ their primary function is education
▪ emphasized on health promotion, prevention of
disease
Responsibilities of a school nurse
▪ organizing and implementing school health program
▪ coordinating school health programs
▪ undertaking functions directly related to pupil’s health
▪ evaluating school health programs
▪ carrying out functions related to health of the
personnel
Advantages:
▪ Affords on to have the opportunity to watch children
advance from grade to grade in school.
▪ Hours are usually good and there are no night shifts.
Disadvantages:
▪ Does not update themselves on the current issues
▪ Should enjoy working with children
Company Nursing
▪ Also called Industrial Nursing, Occupational Health
Nursing
▪ Provides and delivers health care services to workers
Advantages:
▪ No night shifts
▪ There are seniority wage increase, pensions,
insurances.
Disadvantages:
▪ No supervisor to consult.
▪ Limited to occupational hazards
Nursing Education
Qualifications of the Faculty:
▪ must be a RN of the Philippines
▪ have at least 1 year of clinical experience
▪ a member of good standing in the accredited professional organization of
nurse
▪ be a holder of MAN
Dean – MAN, 5 year experience in teaching and supervision (R.A.9173)
> Those who are teaching in the graduate programs for nurses must possess post
Master’s Degree or a Doctoral Degree.
Military Nursing
▪ Nursing Corps (Army), Flight Nursing (Air Force)
Privileges and Benefits of a Military Nurse:
▪ High salary rate and allowance according to rank
▪ Second lieutenant
▪ Glamour and prestige of the uniform, rank and position.
▪ Hospitalization and free medical benefits for parents, and dependents.
▪ Military schooling and basic training at the Armed Forces Medical School at V.
Luna Medical Center
▪ Opportunity to meet people who hold key positions in the AFP and the
government.
▪ Opportunity to travel abroad.
Private Duty Nursing
▪ Is a registered nurse who undertakes to give comprehensive nursing care to a
client on a one-to-one ratio.
Two categories:
▪ General Private Duty Nurse
▪ Private Duty Nurse Specialist
Advantages of Private Duty Practice:
▪ The opportunity to make real friends through close associations with the
patient and his family.
▪ The chance to travel and see the world.
▪ The ability to own time, adjust work and private life satisfactorily, and direct
off-duty time into enjoyable leisure
Disadvantages of Private Duty Practice:
▪ Some private duty nurses create a situation in which the patients become
totally dependent on them.
▪ Many private duty nurses graduated so long ago and have not upgraded their
knowledge and skills.
▪ There are not enough nurses for evening and night shifts, for holiday, week-
ends, and vacation periods.
▪ Being a lone practitioner minimizes opportunity for developing good
relationships with other hospital personnel.
▪ There are no retirement, insurance and medical benefits.
Clinic Nursing
Advantages:
▪ Favorable working hours – no night shifts
▪ The satisfaction of working with people they know
Disadvantage:
▪ Slightly lower salary than hospital nurses.
Independent Nursing Practice
▪ Self-employed and provides professional nursing services to patients and their
families.
▪ These nurses reach out and offer services rather than expect clients to seek
their help.
▪ Psychiatric Nurse Specialist
Thank you for Listening
