Introduction
Working requirements for specialists of different professions, as a rule, require compliance with a number of obligations or job descriptions. Activities in the healthcare sector and, in particular, nursing have many conventions. Immediate duties here closely overlap with the moral and cultural aspects of work without which nursing practice cannot exist. Working as a nurse or a nursing assistant requires commitment and strict adherence to cultural values; otherwise, patients’ outcomes will not be favorable, and positive objectives will not be achieved.
The Correlation of Moral and Professional Qualities
Work in the nursing home cannot be called simple both in terms of professional requirements for employees and moral-psychosocial environment. According to André et al., the directions and trends in official duties may vary depending on the developing healthcare sphere, but one thing remains unchanged – it is the need for full dedication to work (449). Hours spent among patients show that strict adherence to instructions is not the main aspect of a nurse’s work.
No less attention should be paid to the cultural and ethical aspect, namely, the observance of the moral standards of behavior that are necessary for junior medical staff. As Norberg-Hodge claims, there is no limitation of liability when it comes to human life (139). Therefore it is extremely important to observe ethical standards of behavior and not to make mistakes.
The nurse’s duty is dispassionately and at the same time faithfully assisting everyone without exception. As Divakaruni remarks, both people in Third World countries and rich inhabitants of megacities deserve the same attitude (147). Moreover, the nursing qualification is largely determined by the degree of involvement of the employee in the treatment process. Hessler mentions emigrants as people who find it particularly difficult to obtain qualified medical care in new conditions (172). It is therefore important that nurses do not separate cultural values from work responsibilities.
Working with Emotional View
One of the frequent problems of specialists working as medical personnel in nursing homes is excessive fatigue. In addition, an excessive load is associated not only with physical labor but, as Mastracci and Hsieh claim, with emotional exhaustion (1125). Sometimes the task is complicated by the fact that junior staff is considered to be the least respected employees and are not regarded as full participants in the medical process.
Such a factor as low wages exerts considerable pressure on workers and sometimes leads to nervous breakdowns (Cooke 153). Despite these shortcomings, the nurse should not neglect the performance of work duties since this post is directly related to how quickly patients will recover. Consequently, regardless of the degree of emotional fatigue, nursing staff should be qualified to perform their immediate duties in order to avoid tragedies in the workplace.
Regardless of public perception, good nursing assistants are talented and kind in any culture. Mutual respect is a significant aspect of professional activities in different nations (Burciaga 145). The higher the motivation of medical workers is, the higher the chances are that the healthcare sphere will actively develop and provide the services of highly qualified specialists. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the nurse is perceived as the employee who faithfully performs working duties and is willing to selflessly help people in need, despite personal problems and fatigue. Such an idea is likely to be promoted in various cultures among people who are related to the healthcare sphere.
Conclusion
Commitment and adherence to cultural values are indispensable conditions of nurses’ work. The higher the motivation of junior medical personnel is, the more positive patients’ outcomes will be. This profession is associated not only with the performance of immediate duties but also with the pursuit of cultural and ethical values. Emotional fatigue and high stress are often found in nursing practice, which, however, is not an excuse for poor-quality work.
Works Cited
André, Beate, et al. “The Impact of Work Culture on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes – A Review Study.” Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, vol. 28, no. 3, 2014, pp. 449-457.
Burciaga, José A. “My Ecumenical Father.” One World, Many Cultures, edited by Stuart Hirschberg and Terry Hirschberg, 10th ed., Pearson, 2017, pp. 144-146.
Cooke, Julia. “Amigos.” One World, Many Cultures, edited by Stuart Hirschberg and Terry Hirschberg, 10th ed., Pearson, 2017, pp. 151-163.
Divakaruni, Chitra. “Love Free and Starve.” One World, Many Cultures, edited by Stuart Hirschberg and Terry Hirschberg, 10th ed., Pearson, 2017, pp. 147-150.
Hessler, Peter. “The Restaurant Owner.” One World, Many Cultures, edited by Stuart Hirschberg and Terry Hirschberg, 10th ed., Pearson, 2017, pp. 171-176.
Mastracci, Sharon, and Chih-Wei Hsieh. “Emotional Labor and Job Stress in Caring Professions: Exploring Universalism and Particularism in Construct and Culture.” International Journal of Public Administration, vol. 39, no. 14, 2016, pp. 1125-1133.
Norberg-Hodge, Helena. “Learning from Ladakh.” One World, Many Cultures, edited by Stuart Hirschberg and Terry Hirschberg, 10th ed., Pearson, 2017, pp. 139-143.