The frame work of professionalism in nursing began with the mother of professional Nursing Florence Nightingale who set the bar rather high in regards to giving herself to others and her expectation of excellence in nursing practice. Florence Nightingale was an inventor, a visionary, a missionary and she delivered all with a commitment to passion and love. We as nurses, are no different. We hold the tremendous responsibility of upholding the values of our profession. Our core nursing values define the driving force that dictates our beliefs and our behaviors. Nursing as a profession has very unique values that can only be found among nurses globally such as honesty, pursuit for knowledge, responsibility for ones actions, belief in human dignity, equality in all patients and the desire to prevent and alleviate suffering meaning that nursing profession highest desires are to help others in need to improve the quality of life for all same way Nightingale viewed nursing should be. In Kenya do we share the same vision as others globally or is nursing still a calling that those who believe its a profession are frustrated? Does the above values equate to your practice wherever you interface with patient, and this means also outside hospital and on social media? Professionalism in Nursing will always be judged in your personal behaviors and how you present yourself to ALL those around you and it through those behaviors, you will tell the world who you are.
What are these components of professionalism that we should always make sure we maintain them at all costs.
- Your Attitude
- Appearance
- Willingness to help others
Attitude accounts for most when it comes to the image of nursing. As a nurse the way you view your world and portray that view to other matter big time. Right now you already have a picture of whom I might be talking about, that one nurse with a terrible attitude and always ensures that he/she the rest of the staff miserable and in most cases they are very successful in pulling every one into the puddle with them. Here is a little secret my dear nurses, people who behave that way are looking for attention and they suck everyone into to there drama so as to get attention and control their environment. The core principle of nursing profession is helping others not focusing on personal issues. Personal problems should be dealt with ate home not brought to the workplace. There are those nurse when they see students they see them as if they have come to reduce their workload, shame on you if your thoughts are in those line. Just because during your tenure as a student you were not given an easy time doesn't mean other should go though the same. If you are a preceptor Nurse i.e a student is under you observation take time and teach the student, I have observed this in Nairobi hospital, the attitude of nurses there above board and their nursing student, you will love their attitude towards what they are doing. A student with a bad perspective of nursing will always have attitude and will shame the nursing fraternity including YOU who is innocent.
2. APPEARANCE
This is everywhere in the world of business and also social life. You will always be judged by your appearance whether socially or even in a workplace. Clean uniform, neat hair, clean flat shoes and a well groomed look makes the statement that you care about yourself as a person thus you have the capacity to care for others. Shady and sloppy people are seen as unorganized, lazy and uncaring since the can't care for themselves how will they care for other. Always remember that a little attention to how you look goes miles away to display your professionalism.
3. WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS
I don't have a lot of experience in nursing but for the few years I have observed that nurses don't necessarily support each other as we should. We need solidarity in our beloved profession, instead what I see is more individualized approach, whereby we are more worried of ourselves than the whole profession. This also translates to our willingness to assist others, work together as a team as well as speaking positively about nursing profession as much as we can. Let us let go the negative energy so that the positive energy can grow in us since its us it affects if we don't. Always remember your nursing profession is wider and different than your nursing job. There are times especially in the KNUN fb wall nurses tend to talk negatively about nursing profession because we don't like where we work and that you have control over. I appreciate that nursing is a tough profession physically, mentally and socially and with changes in economy the work environment will become more challenging.
To survive and thrive in nursing here in Kenya we have to pull together in the same direction as a profession and fight for representation in policy making in healthcare and other major health decision making organs in the government and the private sector. We should also pull together to ensure we get leadership/management positions that makes nurses representation be vital and of benefit.
In conclusion, remember to always be in your professional character even in social media (kumbuka watoto wako tayari kupaka wauuguzi tope hata pasipo kosa).
In order to understand the concept of professionalism in nursing,
we first need to define the word profession. Webster describes
profession as a “chosen, paid occupation requiring prolonged training
and formal qualification.”
Professionals, therefore can be defined as individuals expected to display competent and skillful behaviors in alignment with their profession. Being professional then is the act of behaving in a manner defined and expected by the chosen profession.
This framework for professionalism in nursing began with our early roots with Florence Nightingale who set the bar rather high in regards to giving herself to others and her expectation of excellence in nursing practice. She was an inventor, a visionary, a missionary and she delivered all with a commitment to passion and love.
We, as nurses, are no different. We bear the tremendous responsibility of upholding the values of our profession. Our core nursing values define the driving force that dictates our beliefs and our behaviors.
Nursing as a profession embodies many values inherent in those who pursue nursing careers. When nurses are asked to identify their core values, they are surprisingly consistent throughout the profession globally. They include honesty, responsibility, pursuit of new knowledge, belief in human dignity, equality of all patients and the desire to prevent and alleviate suffering. In other words, all of us as nurses have chosen this profession to help others in need and to improve the quality of life for all. That mantra has not changed since the days of Florence Nightingale.
So how does this transfer to the expectations of your practice wherever you interface with patients? Your professionalism will be judged in your personal behaviors and how you present yourself to all those around you, and through those behaviors, you tell the world who you are. Components of your professionalism include your attitude, your appearance and your willingness to help others. Let’s explore these a bit.
Attitude
Attitude in nursing is everything! The way you view your world and portray that view to others is everything. I am sure that you all can identify someone in your work environment with a terrible attitude that does their best to make the rest of the staff miserable.
Unfortunately, many times they are successful pulling everyone into the puddle with them. People behave like this because they are looking for attention and by sucking everyone else into their drama they get that attention and control the environment. This type of behavior is counter to the expectations of the nursing profession to focus on helping others rather than focusing on our own problems.
Personal issues need to be left at home and not taken into the work area. There are always going to be times when we face issues in our lives that threaten our positive outlook. I find it helpful to be grateful for everything I have. I believe that waking up in the morning is the best thing that can happen to me and the rest of the day becomes a gift.
I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful lady who lost her daughter to cancer recently. A tremendous lesson for her was to be grateful for every minute she had with her daughter and to convert the “have to’s” to the “get to’s.” When her daughter was depressed that she had to go for more chemotherapy, she reframed that to the fact that she “got to” go for more chemotherapy, which kept her alive for much longer.
If we begin to be grateful for what we have, our whole outlook on life changes and the way we relate to people becomes more meaningful. Be grateful because you “get to” be a nurse, you get to pick up your kids from sports, you get to go grocery shopping, you get to wake up in the morning - the list goes on and on.
Appearance
There is no way around the fact that people judge you by your personal appearance. Clean scrubs, neat hair, clean shoes and a well groomed look makes the statement that you care about yourself as a person and therefore have the capacity to care about others.
People that look sloppy may be perceived by others as unorganized, lazy, and uncaring. If you do not care about yourself, how can you truly care for others? A little attention to how you look goes a long way to display your professionalism.
Willingness to Help Others
What has amazed me in my nursing career for over 35 years is the observation that nurses do not necessarily support each other as we should. There needs to be solidarity in our profession, and yet, what I have observed, is a more individualized approach where we, as nurses, are more worried about ourselves than the whole of the profession. This translates into your willingness to help others and to work together as a team, as well as speak positively about your profession whenever you can.
Remember, your profession is different than your nursing job. At times we, as nurses, may tend to talk negatively about the nursing profession because we do not like where we work, and that you have control over. There is no question that nursing is a tough profession, both physically and mentally, and that with changes in the economy and the pressures of health care reform, the work environment will become even more challenging.
To survive and actually thrive in nursing, we will all need to pull together as a profession and begin by working together at the bedside and being great team players willing to support each other. Something magical happens when we give to others; wonderful things begin to come back to us in far greater ways than what we have originally given.
My parting message to you all is that nurses are the most trusted profession in the world, have so much to give. Show the world how wonderful we are by always putting your best foot forward not only for yourself, but for all of us in this wonderful profession! You go nurse!
- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/what-is-professionalism-in-nursing#sthash.wvPDk4UR.dpuf
Professionals, therefore can be defined as individuals expected to display competent and skillful behaviors in alignment with their profession. Being professional then is the act of behaving in a manner defined and expected by the chosen profession.
This framework for professionalism in nursing began with our early roots with Florence Nightingale who set the bar rather high in regards to giving herself to others and her expectation of excellence in nursing practice. She was an inventor, a visionary, a missionary and she delivered all with a commitment to passion and love.
We, as nurses, are no different. We bear the tremendous responsibility of upholding the values of our profession. Our core nursing values define the driving force that dictates our beliefs and our behaviors.
Nursing as a profession embodies many values inherent in those who pursue nursing careers. When nurses are asked to identify their core values, they are surprisingly consistent throughout the profession globally. They include honesty, responsibility, pursuit of new knowledge, belief in human dignity, equality of all patients and the desire to prevent and alleviate suffering. In other words, all of us as nurses have chosen this profession to help others in need and to improve the quality of life for all. That mantra has not changed since the days of Florence Nightingale.
So how does this transfer to the expectations of your practice wherever you interface with patients? Your professionalism will be judged in your personal behaviors and how you present yourself to all those around you, and through those behaviors, you tell the world who you are. Components of your professionalism include your attitude, your appearance and your willingness to help others. Let’s explore these a bit.
Attitude
Attitude in nursing is everything! The way you view your world and portray that view to others is everything. I am sure that you all can identify someone in your work environment with a terrible attitude that does their best to make the rest of the staff miserable.
Unfortunately, many times they are successful pulling everyone into the puddle with them. People behave like this because they are looking for attention and by sucking everyone else into their drama they get that attention and control the environment. This type of behavior is counter to the expectations of the nursing profession to focus on helping others rather than focusing on our own problems.
Personal issues need to be left at home and not taken into the work area. There are always going to be times when we face issues in our lives that threaten our positive outlook. I find it helpful to be grateful for everything I have. I believe that waking up in the morning is the best thing that can happen to me and the rest of the day becomes a gift.
I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful lady who lost her daughter to cancer recently. A tremendous lesson for her was to be grateful for every minute she had with her daughter and to convert the “have to’s” to the “get to’s.” When her daughter was depressed that she had to go for more chemotherapy, she reframed that to the fact that she “got to” go for more chemotherapy, which kept her alive for much longer.
If we begin to be grateful for what we have, our whole outlook on life changes and the way we relate to people becomes more meaningful. Be grateful because you “get to” be a nurse, you get to pick up your kids from sports, you get to go grocery shopping, you get to wake up in the morning - the list goes on and on.
Appearance
There is no way around the fact that people judge you by your personal appearance. Clean scrubs, neat hair, clean shoes and a well groomed look makes the statement that you care about yourself as a person and therefore have the capacity to care about others.
People that look sloppy may be perceived by others as unorganized, lazy, and uncaring. If you do not care about yourself, how can you truly care for others? A little attention to how you look goes a long way to display your professionalism.
Willingness to Help Others
What has amazed me in my nursing career for over 35 years is the observation that nurses do not necessarily support each other as we should. There needs to be solidarity in our profession, and yet, what I have observed, is a more individualized approach where we, as nurses, are more worried about ourselves than the whole of the profession. This translates into your willingness to help others and to work together as a team, as well as speak positively about your profession whenever you can.
Remember, your profession is different than your nursing job. At times we, as nurses, may tend to talk negatively about the nursing profession because we do not like where we work, and that you have control over. There is no question that nursing is a tough profession, both physically and mentally, and that with changes in the economy and the pressures of health care reform, the work environment will become even more challenging.
To survive and actually thrive in nursing, we will all need to pull together as a profession and begin by working together at the bedside and being great team players willing to support each other. Something magical happens when we give to others; wonderful things begin to come back to us in far greater ways than what we have originally given.
My parting message to you all is that nurses are the most trusted profession in the world, have so much to give. Show the world how wonderful we are by always putting your best foot forward not only for yourself, but for all of us in this wonderful profession! You go nurse!
- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/what-is-professionalism-in-nursing#sthash.wvPDk4UR.dpuf
