Professionalism is an essential ideology in most careers. It is a fact that, professionals carry out their duties with regard to the set rules. It is noteworthy most professionals find accountability as the most distinct concept. For purposes of this essay, professionalism incorporates the challenges, rewards, and opportunities related to being a professional nurse.
According to Adams & McCrindle (2008), professionalism refers to the process of carrying out assigned duties in an accountable and proper approach. In most professional careers, there are set rules and regulations that an individual follow. For example, doctors, engineers, nurses, and lawyers are the most apparent forms of professional individuals. Hence, for one to practice such duties he must have passed tests and registered with apposite bodies. As a result, a person who does not conform to the above standards is not entitled to practice (Adams & McCrindle, 2008).
I concur with this description of professionalism. It is essential for any professional to perform his duties with the highest form of ethical discipline. Thus, one must be liable for the actions and decisions that he makes when discharging duties. This is because before practicing, one must have passed through the required curriculum and registered by the proficient body concerned. Additionally, accountability reduces incidents of slackness and heedlessness at work. Lastly, in allowing only those individuals who have qualified to perform professional duties, it sustains high standards at work.
Cherry (2005) insists that, one of the rewards related to being a professional nurse is the steady issuance of monetary motivational factors by the employers. It is a fact that, as one advances in practice he or she comes across new and more challenging assignments. Thus, the concerned bodies ensure they negotiate new and satisfactory salary increments on their behalf. This is through conciliation with individual employers who include the government or private organizations. As a professional nurse, one is in a position of advancing his career upon wish. Furthermore, advancing careers results to promotion at the work place. It is evident that, being a professional nurse ensures one receives peer and professional recognition. Most importantly, whenever one discharges his duties with adherence to the highest professional values, he is bound to receive credit and compliments from supervisors (Cherry, 2005).
One of the challenges faced by professional nurses involves their social life, where personal believes and feelings conflict with professional values. For example, consider a nurse with strong religious beliefs. It is evident that, such a nurse might be uncomfortable working with patients whose beliefs differ from their own. Most importantly, this violates the nursing code of ethics that dictates one to perform his duties without considering the patients beliefs. Nurses also encounter the challenge of accountability since they are responsible for their actions and decisions (Chitty, 2005). It is noteworthy that a specialized nurse should uphold the highest standard and care. In some organization settings, a professional nurse has the obligation of policing the practice of their colleagues. Thus, one is accountable for a mistake that happens in his area of jurisdiction. Most importantly, occurrence of such incidents often leads to facing of disciplinary measures initiated by the legal policing bodies (Chitty, 2005).
Nursing profession offers an individual numerous opportunities. For instance, those who become members of a professional nursing organization have the opportunity of trading ideas that help them overcome the challenges related to their duties. It is evident that a professional nurse has the opportunity of advancing his career without interference from the any one, including the employers and policing bodies (Cherry, 2005). It is a fact that being a professional nurse provides one with the opportunity to serve the community. This is through practicing in hospitals and participating in community outreach programs; thus, serving the community directly. Additionally, one gets the opportunity of gaining expertise and skills in the field. Hence, he becomes more efficient when discharging duties (Cherry, 2005).
Professionals have the obligation of propagating their duties while maintaining the highest professional stipulations. Professional nurses are responsible for every decisions and actions they take when on duty. Additionally, they face challenges related to their social life. Hence, they have to put up will all manner of issues portrayed by patients. However, they are bound to rewards and opportunities relating to their work. For instance, they have the opportunity of advancing their careers at their preferred time. Most importantly, the policing and registration bodies on their behalf do their salary negotiation whenever necessary.
References
Adams, A. & McCrindle, R. (2008). Pandora’s Box: social and professional issues of the information age. New Jersey, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
Cherry, B. (2005). Contemporary nursing: issues, trends, & management. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Chitty, K. (2005). Professional nursing: concepts & challenges. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Health Sciences.