I often wonder that question. Especially when I am working with a co-worker that seems to have no interest in caring for patients but does have interest in the messages on their facebook page!
This course will discuss the issues of professionalism and ethical issues in nursing. I hope this course will help provide a better understanding of how important a positive image and conduct are in nursing. Nurses must have an understanding of ethical issues and concerns that may arise within their practice.
Course Objectives
1) Discuss the definition of professionalism.
2) Discuss the positive and negative impact of professionalism in the nursing practice.
3) Discuss ethical issues and concerns of utilizing technology.
4) Discuss the impact of the moral and ethical issues that impact the nursing practice.
Please feel free to join discussions regarding the issues of professionalism and ethical concerns that can impact the nursing profession.
Tschudin (2006) stated, " Nurses who have been educated to the level of safe practice are able to account for their own practice, and they are more likely to do this based on conscience; the relationship with a patient;or the need to express this professionalism (as a virtue): I am a professional nurse, thereforth what I do is professional." (p.113).
Tschudin, V. (2006). 30th anniversity commentary on Esterhuizen P. (1996): Is the professional code still the cornerstone of clinical nursing practice? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53(1), 113.
Hi Christie! Welcome and please know I am now set up! :)
ReplyDeleteProfessionalism is a huge issue at the school where I teach. If someone does something someone else does not like they say, "It is not professional." I think professionalism is more than that. Nurses should have high standards as employees, being on time, not being absent, being prepared. We should also maintain confidentiality, give the best care possible to our patients, be kind and supportive to co-workers. Professionalism is too important to ignore.
ReplyDeleteProfessionalism seems to be an issue in any profession whether it be in healthcare or other profession. A positive attitude and conduct needs to be displayed at all times. Even when we are not on duty, the public sees us everywhere. So proper conduct is important. Even through technology such as facebook, tweeting and texting, professionalism needs to be upheld. With these technologies utilized what ethical concerns exist?
ReplyDeleteI agree, nurses are held to a higher standard and we have to be careful about what we say on facebook, tweet, and texting. It is important to pass this on to students as they are so used to socia media that they forget that they must protect patients privacy. What do you think of the case of 4 nursing students who took a picture of theirselves with a placenta and posted it on facebook? They asked their instructor for permission but she shrugged it off. They went ahead and took the pictures and were expelled from nursing school. (This happened last January). Do you think the students should have been expelled? What about the instructor? Jo
DeleteNursing Educator, Great question! The instructor is just as reasonable as the students are. Students are accountable for their actions. The instructor is suppose to be guiding them into being accountable for the actions. I feel the students should have been expelled but the instructor also needed to be punished. What do you think about students making comments on facebook about their clinical experiences? Even if no names are mentioned in the facebool posting, do you think HIPPA is violated?
DeleteProfessionalism is a very important issue facing nurses and the nursing profession. It seems that nurses frequently seem to want to "eat their young" instead of welcoming them and assisting them to adjust to the new role of nurse. I feel that nurses must act professional in all their activities whither on or off the job.
ReplyDeleteNice comment Gail. Nurses need to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. If you live in a small rural community where everyone knows the business of everyone, repetition goes along way!! Thanks
DeleteChristie,
ReplyDeleteI to believe that professonalism is one of the most important thing we can teach our students. Nurses have been considered the most ethical and reliable profession every year except for the year of 911. People look up to us whether we are in uniform or not.
Professionalism embraces a set of attitudes, skills and behaviors that are expected from public sector to whom society has considered a professional such as nurses in the healthcare profession (CRNM, 2009). There are certain values that one considers part of professionalism in nursing and these values include honesty, integrity, repect, accountability and compassion towards others, especially those that are in need of care. What is one of the hardest things an instructor will have to do is instill in the nursing student the understanding and the importance of professionalism, not just as a nurse, but as part of the personal growth as well. As it has been stated by pinklady48, whether nurses are in uniform or not, people do look up to nurses no matter where they are or what they do, the expectation of professionalism is always there.
ReplyDeleteJudi
Reference:
College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba. (2009). Quality practice environment initiation: Professionalism in nursing practice. Retrieved from http://cms.tng-secure.com/file_download.php?fFile_id=10165
Classmates, there have been some very discussions on professionlism. Thank you so much. As nurses, we have to encounter ethical issues and concerns on our units, with our patients and co-workers. Sometimes I have found that when certain ethical issues arise, professionalism from healthcare providers and co-workers seems to get lost. Recently, I was taking care a terminally patient without a DNR status. He was considered a full code. The healthcare provider made it clear to us (the staff) that nothing was to be done if the patient arrested. But as a nurse, something was going to be done. Maybe the efforts of coding him would not save him, but as a nurse, I needed to do all I could. I wanted this patient to die with dignity. What do you think? Please let let me know.
ReplyDeleteChristie,
ReplyDeleteThis is Deb P. again. I was unable to post my previous comment,so I will try again. The definition of professionalism was discussed at work today. The unit I work in at Baxter is housed in the basement of an old rock church. The county gave the space to the Arkansas Department of Health. The basement has opaque windows you can't see out and that have been sealed. so they cannot be opened. When it rains, it floods. So our discussion was about what, if any, the environment we work in positively or negatively may effect the 'professionalism' of the medical workers. We all agreed our physical work environment has a negative effect. From attitudes to dressing standards to personal pride...it seems several of us feel diminished by the environment. Just thought I would share... DebP