PROFESSIONAL ADJUSTMENT Nursing is a professional discipline complimentary to other health care professions.

Its purpose is to help adopt a healthy lifestyles, to enable people to cope with their health problems, and to care for people during illness in ways which promotes health and healing and which minimizes disability. The practice of nursing requires specialist knowledge and skills, a human concern for nurses and others, and the exercise of clinical judgment.

Professionalism
Professionalism is a key to nursing excellence. Factors that may affect professionalism:
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Global shortage of nurses. Effect of nursing education. Quality of health care delivery system. (Salary of the nurses, Brain drain of the nurses, New career pathway of nurses, Nursing education) Migration of nurses.

Profession
Profession is the public declaration of ones belief.

Criteria of a Profession
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Extended specialized education. Theoretical body of knowledge. Altruism or selfless service. Autonomy. Code of Ethics.

Characteristics of a Profession
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Promotes the welfare and well-being of its practice and safeguards their interest. Motivated by its commitment to the service it renders that the consideration of economic gain. Adheres to a code of conduct. Unites for strength in achieving its larger purposes and realizes its corporate identity through a professional association.

Accredited Professional Association for Nurses in the Philippines: Philippine Nurses Association (PNA)
Types of Membership in the PNA:

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Regular member. Renews membership yearly. Lifetime member. Must be a regular member for three years. Honorary member. Nurses with recognitions or achievements.

Benefits of being a member of the PNA: 4. 5. 6. 7. PNA journal of nursing. Published two times a year. Usage of the auditorium, conference room, and library for a minimal fee. Dormitory facilities. Scholarships or fellowship trainings. Locally and abroad, provided that the member is qualified as recommended by the board of directors. 8. Mutual grant aid program if the member is disabled. 9. Death benefits 10. Legal advice or counseling in cases of administrative or labor disputes. Personal growth is the personality development embracing all its aspects (Physical, biological, emotional, social, moral, and spiritual) including attitudes and behaviors in life. Professional growth on the other hand, refers to the development of skills and knowledge in the practice of a profession. In nursing, it is concerned with the cognitive and inactive aspects geared towards rendering quality patient care.

Unprofessional Conduct
Unprofessional nurses lack the commitment to do their work. Here are example of these type of nurses.
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Nurses of tomorrow. In a hurry to go home but is always late in coming to work. Nurses who live in a constant sense of regret. Enterprising nurse. Nurses who sell different items for additional income. Cheerful or robot nurses. These kind of nurses a basically lazy. Addict nurses. Excessively dedicated.

Career Pathways of Nurses

A career pathway is the transition of a nurse from novice to being a practitioner or expert. 1. Novice. They are governed by the rules and regulations or the standard operating procedures. Focus is on skill development which are the ability to perform basic nursing procedures and core competencies as a BSN graduate. Clinical level in private hospitals: Staff nurse. Clinical level in public hospitals: Nurse I 2. Advanced beginner. They have a much more acceptable performance. Are able to deliver competent nursing care plans. Clinical level in private hospitals: Charge nurse. Clinical level in public hospitals: Nurse clinician I

3. Competent practitioner. They consciously plan nursing care. Self-confident and coaches his subordinates. Clinical level in private hospitals: Head nurse, Nurse supervisor, or Clinical instructors. Clinical level in public hospitals: Nurse clinician II 4. Proficient practitioner. Perception is as a whole and focus is on innovation and creativity. Clinical level in private hospitals: Clinical nurse specialist. Clinical level in public hospitals: Division chief coordinator. 5. Expert practitioner. Has been practicing for around 12 years. Is very intuitive. Focus is on administrative skills, leading, and delegating. Clinical level in private and public hospitals: Consultant, Director, or Chief Nurse.