Is Nursing A Profession - 1153 Words

Is Nursing A Profession? Prentella Wilkerson University of Alabama at Birmingham Is Nursing a Profession? A pronounced dispute still stands of whether a job of a nurse can be considered a profession or an occupation. Merriam-Webster s Medical Dictionary defines a profession as a â€Å"calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation† (Profession, 2013). Merriam-Webster s Medical Dictionary defines an occupation as â€Å"a practice preformed with financial compensation† (Occupation, 2013). An occupation can be filled by a professional or an amateur; however, an amateur could hardly be named as a professional. Distinguished characteristics define a professional as they are able to master a skill†¦show more content†¦For example, an idol of the nursing profession ,Florence Nightingale, pronounced nursing to be expecially meaningful as it was a profession of a divine calling to do God s work (Florence Nightingale Museum, 2012). By applying their compassion, knowledge, and expertise the nurse has the capacity to transform and imact someone’s life. From birth tothe moments in the end of life, nurses are amongst the first and last people an individual can cross paths with.. Opportunity to create trusting and confiding relationships between themselves and the patients develop during regular life instances.When a patients acknowledge that you made a difference in their lives, one can only believe that this is more than an occupation(Blais and Hayes 2011).. In a professional position,nurses can reflect on their calling in life by providing quality care and bear witness to postive patient outcomes. Code of Ethics Every professional position creates a code of ethics in which they are conducted to follow to maintain appropriate relationships between themselves and clients (Blais Hayes, 2011). In the registered nurse field of work it does not differ in the position that you have, everyone from all domains are guided by the code of ethics. It is the foundation for anyone, including management, education, administration, or in the frontline with direct patient care (Vogel, 2011).The American Nurses