What Does Professionalism Mean to You: the Art of Being a Nurse

In order to do justice to a chosen subject which is professionalism in nursing, one must first of all, begin by characterizing and describing what does professionalism mean to you? The current essay explores the concept of professionalism in nursing profession. Here we will refer to the definition of 'professionalsim' from the Meriam-Webster dictionary: “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person”. This means that there are characteristics that differentiate a professional from a novice, an amateur or a voluntary person. It is important to understand the following based on the above definition, if there are two people working in an organization, one might be termed a professional and the other one not so. Professionalism is an individual trait and in this essay, one will examine the characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, behavior and role of a professional nurse. Then one ask, what is professionalism in nursing? it is stated in the Nursing Practice Act that professionalism in nursing means to perform an act of specialized judgment and skills based on knowledge and applications of the principles...as acquired by completion at an approved school of professional nursing ' By being professional in these practices, one will become successful.

One of the characteristics in nursing is professionalism. Professionalism is having many attributes and qualities that contribute to amazing care. What professionalism means is having respect for yourself and for others. It comes down too many small things like having the proper uniform, not using slang when talking, being polite and greeting with a smile and digs deeper to more substance with larger meanings like having the skills, mannerism and education. To me professionalism is punctual, organized, and having values.

Smith, Duel and Martin defined professionalism in nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, advocacy in the care of individuals, in families, communities, and populations”. This means making the best and effective use of your abilities to perform the best quality care to the people. Without having professionalism people will take you as a joke and will not trust you with their lives.

Weshenfelder article writes about building professionalism and how it is synonymous with good customer service and it is a learned skill. The article talks about residents in a nursing home that are frustrated with their environment. They experience things that are always changing from new care givers, to schedule changes, and moving to new rooms. With professionalism it helps defuses residents' negative emotions. The Nurses used professionalism by listening to patients, and recognizing clients concerns by telling them about changes early. By having the patients to explain questions and setting up reminders and daily updates for confused clients. Tackling problems and understanding their concerns to help build confidence for the clients so they can believe in you. Also, the article writes about the making of professionalism. That it is a learned skill through experience and from mentoring. Some of the skills mention that professionalism learn is being a team player, having confidence, being accountable and always continually improving. Professionalism is a role that you don’t just show at the hospital, but you express in your daily lives. You bring this attitude with you everywhere you go, to the grocery store, when posting photos on social media accounts, or even when you are at home setting an example to your family.

What is Good Communication? Another characteristic presented in the healthcare field by nurses is having good communication. Good communication is clear, concise, and direct. Having good communication is a very effective and important nursing skill that leads has positive impacts. As nurses communicating effectively will provide the best care to the patients and is vital for client safety. Good communication builds trust and creates an environment that improves patient's wellbeing. On Berman, Synder, and Frandsen the meaning of communication is “any means of exchanging information or feelings between two or more people. It is the basic component of human relationships, including nursing”. Good communication in nursing is communicating in a variety of ways. It's able to communicate with the non-verbal, providing therapeutic communication, or as an everyday tool for charting, assessments, planning of care and teaching.

The Commonwealth Fund report on Tingle ranked United Kingdom the number one best healthcare system in the world one reason is due to good communication set by the National Health Service (NHS) a publicly funded healthcare system of the United Kingdom. Errors and complaints are revolved around by miscommunication. That if health professionals communicated better there would be fewer complaints. We as health professionals must be more aware when we communicate with clients. Be proactive and take notice if patients look confuse and don’t understand. Sometimes they pretend to understand but feel embarrassed because they have poor literacy skills. Other times doctors use familiar words but use it in a medical fashion that’s hard to comprehend. The article expresses good communication practice is following these selected recommendations: check understanding by patient recall known as teach back, communicate in other ways like using printed graphics and multimedia and establish first what the patient understands. The NHS strives to make it a safer place for patients. Good communication is a “dynamic interpersonal process, is deemed as effective and therapeutic when all conveyed messages are fully comprehended”. Communicating is more than exchanging of words. It is showing compassion and it builds trust to create an environment that improves patient's outcome.

What is Integrity and Accountability? Integrity and accountability are words with meanings that go hand in hand with each other. To have integrity means to be responsible for your actions and admitting if you are ever at fault. Integrity is “Individuals apply the same rigorous standards of proof to their own knowledge and beliefs as they apply to the knowledge and beliefs to others”. It's about being honest and having a stong moral. So, if you make an error or a mistake and simply just not prepared have accountability for your actions as this builds a strong nurse.

Accountability means “Be accountable and answerable for your behavior and nursing actions and the nursing care you are expected to provide'. That you have an obligation as a nurse to provide the best care that is required for your role as a nurse. The public has expectation for nurses to act in professional manner. Integrity and accountability are great qualities for a nurse and is core value in the characteristics in nursing.

In conclusion, professionalism, good communication, and integrity and accountability overall builds a strong nurse. Now when you are in a healthcare setting and your nurses have all these attributes, I can guarantee you that you will have fewer complaints, less errors and overall a better experience in a healthcare setting. These characteristics are the foundation to provide high quality patient care. Nurses represents the healthcare which is one of the reasons why they are so important. Overall, these characteristics builds strong relationships between patients and nurses. In the end manners matters and trust begins with nurses.

References

• Berman, A., Synder, S., & Frandsen, G (2016). Kozier & Erbs fundamentals of nursing: Concepts, Process, and Practice (10th ed.) 
• Pearson Weshenfelder Building Professionalism and Customer Service. Nursing Homes: Long Term Care Management. Jul 2005, Vol. 54 Issue 7, p30 – 33. 3p. 
• Smith, S., Duell, D., & Martin, B (2012). Clinical Nursing Skills Basic to Advanced Skills (8th ed.) New Jersey: Pearson
• Tingle, J (2014). Good Communication and the Safe Healthcare Environment. British Journal of Nursing. 7/10/2014, Vol. 23 Issues 13, p 754-755. 2p.