Nursing Profession
The nursing profession has been growing for decades, with more emphasis on the provision of quality, safe, and evidence-based care to the patient. I believe that nursing is as defined by the role of a nurse by Virginia Henderson as assisting individuals who are either sick or well in carrying out activities that he/she would do if the necessary strength, will, and knowledge was present and that contributes to health or recovery (or a peaceful death) and to performs this in a manner that the patients gain independence rapidly (Gonzalo, 2014). Professional responsibility, on the other hand, is the ability to make judgments and demonstrate excellent knowledge and being responsible for the actions taken or decisions made, while working to promote an environment that maximizes independence, health consumer safety and quality of life (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2012). Also, being professional to me is the capacity to carry out all the activities that the society requires an individual to perform. This paper will discuss the need theory and professional responsibility, and how it complements my understanding of the meaning of nursing, and finally, describe the meaning of being professional.
The Need Theory
The need theory is one of the modern nursing theories that was developed by Virginia Henderson to identify the unique function of nursing. It focuses more on establishing patient independence to promote recovery. The approach emphasizes on the fact that individuals have basic needs that must be addressed to ensure normal functioning; therefore, it provides ways in which nurses can work to help in solving them (Gonzalo, 2014). Furthermore, the theory has four concepts, which include an individual, the environment, health, and nursing. The first concept in this is the patient who is referred in this case as an individual as is described as a person who needs care, which does not necessarily mean that the illness causes it.
Furthermore, the second concept is the issue of the environment, and although it is not well defined in the theory, it states that offering an environment that supports health is among the 14 client assistance activities. Health, on the other hand, is another concept that is considered to mean balance in all life realms in humans. It is considered to be the ability to carry out 14 activities without help (Parker & Smith, 2015). Finally, the last aspect is nursing, and this has the primary goal of ensuring that the patient is complete, independent, or whole. All of these aspects are well included in the definition.
Besides, activities that an individual can perform when they have the necessary strength, will, and knowledge in this theory are considered as the 14 components. It gives the holistic approach which has social needs, psychological spiritual, and physiological needs (Parker & Smith, 2015). They are activities that a nurse should help the patient in maintaining them to promote a healthy life or to a peaceful death. Some of the physiological needs include; eating and drinking adequately, selecting appropriate dressing, breathing normally, maintenance of the body temperature, and sleep and rest (Gonzalo, 2014). Additionally, the social needs of an individual can include working in a manner that initiates a sense of success and participation in various kinds of activities, including recreational ones.
Other needs include the spiritual need where the patient is allowed to worship according to their faith, and finally, psychological needs examples are, communicating with other people in delivery of opinions, fear, emotions or needs, and to discover, learn and to satisfy the interest that leads to normal growth, health, and making use of the available health facilities (McEwen & Willis, 2014). These activities are the ones that each one or every individual will deal with on a day-to-day basis to live a healthy life. Therefore, nursing, through the action of the health care provider, ensures that these needs are met to enable those individuals who require assistance to maintain them. It thus defines the work provided by the nurse as nursing.
Professional Responsibility
Professional responsibility usually involves the proficiencies associated with legal, professional, and cultural safety and ethical roles. One of the competencies under the processional obligations indicates that nurses should practice nursing in such a way that the consumer of the health service considers culturally safe. Care provided in the health care facilities needs to apply the principles of cultural safety that has four aims which include improving the well-being and the health status of people of New Zealand, promoting better provision of health services, acknowledging the differences in individuals seeking care and finally, understanding the power of health services and the impact it has on the families and individuals (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2012). Culture affects the consumption of healthcare services, and thus, it must serve to protect the well-being of the consumers.
Also, nursing care should be provided in a manner that respects the consumer identity and the rights to hold on their values, beliefs, and goals. In this case, the basis of nursing should depend on the client's decisions and what the client considers right or wrong and acceptable or unacceptable should be fully acknowledged, and the necessary interventions implemented (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2012). However, the patient's right to autonomy must be made a priority, with the caregivers choosing to provide care that is culturally right and acceptable by the patient’s faith.
Furthermore, nursing practice is all about developing a good relationship with the clients to facilitate the proper delivery of health services. Thus, the care should consider assisting the health consumer in having the necessary support they might require, for example, in cases that employ preferences, and culture. Besides, the practice needs to reflect on the values that impact nursing care concerning the patient's ethnicity, age, beliefs, culture, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. With approval from the client, consulting with their members of the culture or other groups can also be incorporated to promote a better understanding of the cultural norms and possibly avoid conflicts that may arise from a particular situation (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2012). Additionally, the nursing practice should avoid imposing prejudice, and on the other hand, it must consider advocating in cases where it is apparent to promote the rights of the health consumer.
Nursing requires a collaborative approach that needs the involvement of various factors, with one of it being the cultural values and beliefs of the individuals seeking care. Culture is diverse with people having their own beliefs while on the other hand, nursing is all about meeting the social, psychological, physiological as well as the spiritual needs of the consumers (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2012). Therefore, offering practice that is considered to be culturally safe is one way of providing care that s inclusive, and that serves the interest of the patient.
Being Professional
Nursing, like any other profession, has a defined purpose with aims and goals that it wants to deliver to its consumers. Therefore, being professional to me is having the chance to have a close relationship with the society that established it. The connection between the society and the nursing profession can be made through the provision of quality health services to those seeking them (New Zealand Nurses Organisation, 2017). Besides, nursing is guided by a set of values, its area of independent practice, and a distinct body of knowledge, and this is what is being professional.
Furthermore, being professional is taking the responsibilities for the action one took or the decisions they made, which resulted in inevitable consequences. Additionally, it also means, practicing within code, and providing sound judgment, advocating for better and appropriate health services for patients, and offering nursing practice in line with the standards set by profession. The provision of nursing services is also collaborative (New Zealand Nurses Organisation, 2017). In this case, being professional will mean the ability to work with colleagues to promote up-to-date knowledge of legal issues, be aware of the new trends, and having the ability to apply the findings of relevant studies to facilitate change and innovation in practice.
Also, acknowledging the rights and practice of co-workers is one of the most crucial parts of nursing practice. This is because conflicting opinions in the profession are inevitable, and they might require discussions for a resolution to be reached (New Zealand Nurses Organisation, 2017). Acceptance of a review of colleagues to allow intervention in the cases of poor practice is also professional because learning is an on-going process.
Within an organization, being professional will also include facilitating co-operation between the colleagues, and other group health care teams and applying the standards of practice in care delivery. It will also involve a review of competencies and maintaining accurate records of events and reviews of the current practice (New Zealand Nurses Organisation, 2017). Additionally, taking part in an ongoing negotiation between the profession and the society to ensure that their needs are met and are kept informed of changes in health care is also part of it. Therefore, being professional means understanding one's roles in the society, organization, in working with colleagues and with the patients.
Conclusion
Conclusively, nursing has undergone a series of development, with most of its emphasis currently focusing on offering high-quality care that is safe and supported by evidence. I believe that Virginia Henderson’s role of a nurse can define the nursing profession. Furthermore, the choice of the nurses to be responsible for the decisions and actions they make is what I consider as professional responsibility, and it includes the provision of services that are culturally acceptable by the recipient. Besides, being professional is the ability to carry out all the activities that an individual is required to do by their profession, and what the society expects from them. With this understanding and consideration of being professional and taking responsibilities, I believe nursing will serve its purpose.
References
Gonzalo, A. (2014). Virginia Henderson: Need Theory Study Guide. Retrieved 1 October 2019, from https://nurseslabs.com/virginia-hendersons-need-theory/
McEwen, M. & Willis, E. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation. (2017). Guideline - Code of Ethics. Retrieved 1 October 2019, from https://www.nzno.org.nz/get_involved/consultation/artmid/4775/articleid/1515/guideline---code-of-ethics
Nursing Council of New Zealand. (2012). Competencies for registered nurses. Retrieved 1 October 2019, from https://www.tdhb.org.nz/services/nursing/documents/nursing-council-documents/Competencies%20for%20registered%20nurses.pdf
Parker, M. E., & Smith, M. C. (2015). Nursing theories and nursing practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company
