Professionalism
In nursing, professionalization is having sufficient knowledge, self-discipline, and commitment, adhering to social values and executing standard activities in the provision of health care services to the patients. Shohani & Zamanzadeh (2017) states that development of professional or rather professionalization is influenced by factors such as official authority, research development, frequent training, resources, professional ethics, unity among members, nurses' support and, individual's actions. However, despite all these factors that influence professionalization, research has found that there is a weakness in professionalization or in other words, health care centers are experiencing insufficient professional nurses, higher rates of resignations, lack of job satisfaction and poor working environments (Shohani & Zamanzadeh, 2017). The research finds that professionalization has challenges which hinder the nurses from offering quality care. Nurses are unable to show professionalization due to lack of professional identity. The latter is hindered by technological, political, scientific and social factors.
The problem with professionalization since the professionalization is viewed through the lens of capabilities of nurses, professional ethics, frequent training, professional organizations, nursing license-confidence, managerial positions and more (Shohani & Zamanzadeh, 2017). On the other hand, clinical nurses' attitudes are not valued. The research article finds that the majority of nurses are women with a Bachelor of Science. On the other hand, men who enter in the nursing field with MSc degrees are less willing to stay on the job. In general, men and women hold different attitudes where some belief in the sense of commitment whereas as other belief on autonomy and organization unity. The main point is that professionalization needs to be supported in order to create satisfaction and provision of better services. Thus, as nurses hold their own beliefs, there should be a relationship between their attitudes and other variables such as nursing training for them to gain scientific knowledge (Shohani & Zamanzadeh, 2017). Nurses should know that education is not only about getting high degrees but also attending in-service training sessions to gain experience, job security and increase knowledge.
Professionalism in nursing
As a nurse, I understand that I have to demonstrate professionalism in order to offer high-quality services and create a healthy work environment. Nurses achieve professionalism through different practice such as adhering to ARNNL standards of practice, professional standards and demonstrating positive verbal and non-verbal behaviors (Huston, 2014). One situation in which I demonstrated professionalism in nursing is when I exercised ethical nursing practice. I was working in a community where the population was culturally diverse. I met patients of different races and backgrounds and I was able to avoid implicit stereotype and prejudices. I focused on my goals of providing an impartial care regardless of the diversity. I interacted with both white and black patients and I ensured a high standard of care to all patients. I focused on building professional relationships and acted as a moral agent in doing the good and right things. I was also interested in learning the cultures and this helped in providing cultural competency and sensitivity.
I can say that my behaviors in this situation (valuing and accepting diversity) is different than it would have been without my RN to BSN programs because these programs have provided me with higher proficiency in communication, critical thinking, adherence to ethical principles, showing repost, integrity, discipline, and compassion. These programs have also helped me gain cognitive skills, impersonal, and behavioral skills (Huston, 2014). By having the knowledge and skills required in nursing, I was able to value the different cultures, create rapport with patients, communicate effectively and offer culturally competent care to all patients. However, if I had not attained RN and BSN programs, there could be misunderstanding and miscommunication, unhealthy interactions, healthy disparities, lack of access to quality care and the minority would suffer from serious ailments (Huston, 2014). I would not value diversity but I would provide quality care to patients whom we have common cultures and show unfairness to the minority.
References
Huston, C. J. (2014). Professional issues in nursing: Challenges & opportunities. Baltimore, MD ;
Philadelphia, PA
Shohani, M., & Zamanzadeh, V. (2017). Nurses' Attitude towards Professionalization and Factors
Influencing It. Journal of caring sciences, 6(4), 345-357
