Essay - Professionalism in the Field of Nursing Introduction the Terms Nursing...

Professionalism in the field of nurs*****g

Introduction

***** terms nursing and professionalism have not always been seen to be synonymous. It is only relatively recently that ***** has been seen as a profession on the same level as other medical and healthcare professions. In the h**********ry of the development of nursing, it ***** often been viewed as being secondary to the medical and ***** professions. Nurses were seen as playing a supporting role to the professional doctor and surgeon. However, this situation has changed radically ***** over the last century, nurses have come into *****ir own as true *****s.

There are a number of re*****sons for the assertion of professionalism in the institution of nursing. These include the additional functions and ***** has been given to nursing. A*****her factor is ***** greater theoretical concern and focus on the ***** and importance ***** nursing as a profession; ***** example in ***** well - accepted model of Human Caring put forward by Jean Watson (Watson J. 2006). ***** th***** theory the nurse is seen to provide an essential function in the process of heal*****g and is no longer considered merely as an adjunct to the doctor.

***** ********** other developments ***** all contributed to the understanding and acceptance of the ***** of nursing. In o*****r words, the trained nurse ***** in a contemporary medical context considered be a fully*****fledged profession*****l with extensive and far-reaching responsibilities and functions - which includes cultural and social aspects. This paper will explore the relationship between the term professionalism ***** modern nursing and focus on central aspects of ***** development of nursing and the c*****temporary assessment and view of the nursing profession.

2. The evolution of ***** professionalism

The history of nursing is gener*****y one of taking a secondary position to other professionals. As one commenta*****r on the professi*****alism of nursing states, "Nursing has struggled since the early 1900's to achieve popular ***** as a profession." (The Role of Collective Bargaining ***** Unions in Advancing ***** Profession of *****) Other critics also note that the development of ***** has ***** characterized by a search for professional acceptance. "Its history documents a detailed account of ***** growth of an occupation in its quest for professionalization... "(Donahue, 1996, p. 459).

*****re are many causes of the struggle ***** professional ***** and the obstacles ***** in the way of nurs*****g advancement. One of the most obvious was gender prejudice ***** the fact that, as women, they were not ***** ***** ***** on the ***** level as the male-dominated ***** profession.

Despite these prejudices, the claim to *****alism lies in fact that ***** nurse ***** always played an important role ***** only in their service ***** doctors, but ***** the close and intimate care of patients and in their active role in the healing process. This tradition in nursing in a ***** context beg*****n with the example ***** standards set by Florence Nightingale. ***** can possibly be seen ***** the initiator ***** the ethos of modern pr*****essionalism that is found in