PROFESSION OF NURSING

OBJECTIVES:
1. Discuss the historical development of professional nursing.
2. Discuss the modern definitions, philosophies, and theories of
nursing practice.
3. Describe educational programs for becoming a registered
nurse.
4. Describe practice settings for nurses.
5. Describe the roles and functions of a nurse.
6. List the 5 characteristics of a profession and discuss how
nursing demonstrates these characteristics.

DEFINITION
NURSING
OF NURSING

The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual,

sick or well, in the performance of those activities
contributing to health, its recovery, or to a peaceful death
that the client would perform unaided if he had the necessary
strength, will, or knowledge. And to do this in such a way as to
help the client gain independence as rapidly as possible.

Virginia Henderson
International Council of Nurses, 1973

NURSING THEORISTS

THEORIST

GOAL

FRAMEWORK

OREM
(1971)

To care for and

help client attain
total self-care.

Self-Care Deficit
Theory. Nursing
care becomes
necessary when
client is unable to
fulfill their needs.

ROGERS
(1970)

To maintain and
promote health,
prevent illness, and
care for and
rehabilitate ill and
disabled client
through humanistic
science of nursing.

Unitary man
evolves along life
process. Client
continuously
changes and
coexists with
environment.

LEININGER
(1978)

To provide care
consistent with
nursings emerging
science and
knowledge with
caring as central
focus.

Transcultural Care
Theory is the
central and unifying
domain for nursing
knowledge and
practice.

EDUATIONAL PREPARATION
ASSOCIATE DEGREE
DIPLOMA
BACCALAUREATE
GRADUATE NURSING
CONTINUING EDUCATION
IN-SERVICE EDUCATION
LPN/LVN

PRACTICE SETTING
HOSPITALS, SKILLED NURSING
RESTORATIVE SETTINGS
COMMUNITY BASED:
1. HEALTH CENTERS
2. SCHOOLS
3. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
4. HOME HEALTH

LEVELS OF PREVENTIVE
CARE
PRIMARY PREVENTION
Health Promotion
Specific Protection
SECONDARY PREVENTION
Early Dx and Prompt Tx
Disability Limitations
TERTIARY PREVENTION
Restoration & Rehabilitation

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE

NURSE
CAREGIVER
CLINICAL DECISION MAKER
PATIENT ADVOCATE
CASE MANAGER
REHABILITATOR
COMFORTER
COMMUNICATOR
TEACHER

CAREER ROLES
NURSE EDUCATOR
ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE
-CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST
-NURSE PRACTITIONER
-CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE
-NURSE ANESTHETIST
-ADMINISTRATOR
-NURSE SCIENTIST

CHARACTERISTICS OF A
PROFESSION
EDUCATION
BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
SERVICE
AUTONOMY
CODE OF ETHICS

CODE OF ETHICS
American Nurses Association
1. The nurse provides services with respect for human dignity and the
uniqueness of the client unrestricted by considerations of social or
economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.
2. The nurse safeguards the clients right to privacy by judiciously
protecting information of a confidential nature.
3. The nurse acts to safeguard the client and the public when health
care and safety are affected by the incompetent, unethical, or illegal
practice of any person.
4. The nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for individual
nursing judgments and actions.
5. The nurse maintains competence in nursing.

CODE OF ETHICS
American Nurses Association
6. The nurse exercises informed judgment and uses individual competence
and qualifications as criteria in seeking consultation, accepting
responsibilities, and delegating nursing activities to others.
7. The nurse participates in activities that contribute to the ongoing
development of the professions body of knowledge.
8. The nurse participates in the professions efforts to implement and
improve standards of nursing.
9. The nurse participates in the professions efforts to establish and maintain
conditions of employment conducive to high-quality nursing care.
10. The nurse participates in the professions effort to protect the public from
misinformation and misrepresentation and to maintain the integrity of
nursing.
11. The nurse collaborates with members of the health professions and other
citizens in promoting community and national efforts to meet the health
needs of the public.

TRENDS IN NURSING
Basic nursing education in community
colleges and universities.
A growing variety of employment settings.
Growing emphasis on the aspects of nursing
that characterize it as a profession.
Increasing political influence of nursing.
Nursing influences on health care policy and
practice.