Introduction
Nursing is a branch of medicine that deals with the health care of individuals, families, and the whole human population. Its goal is to attain high standards of health, maintain optimal care and ensure a quality life for patients (Donahue, 2010). It is an ancient profession that has grown from where nuns and military men were tasked to provide the services.
The churches were responsible for promoting nursing in the ancient days, for example, the Orthodox Church, but it evolved into modern nursing where professionals are trained in nursing schools (Donahue, 2010). The American Nurses Association (2011) defines professional nursing as the protection, endorsement, optimization, and advocacy of care, prevention, and mitigation of illness through diagnosis or treatment. Professionalism in nursing is evaluated based on the ability of the nurse to undertake his or her work with a lot of respect to the quality of life. As such, the elements of a professional nurse include appearance, attitude, and desire to help others. This paper will highlight why nursing should be conducted at a very high degree of professionalism.
Importance of professionalism in nursing
The health sector forms a common meeting point where all sorts of people and characters in society are set to meet for an illness, check-up, or an injury. Being a social place, the appearance of the practitioners is very sensitive to how people will judge them. The code of ethics regarding the dressing is clear that nurses have to be well-groomed and clean to send positive information to the patients. A decent and clean nurse displays the fact that he or she can care about his or her body, which in turn gives a message that such a person is willing and able to take care of others (Stacy, 2012). On the other side, a sloppy outlook will mean disorganization, laziness, and uncaringness about others. Here, people will judge such an individual as incompetent to give care for other deserving patients. Thus, professionalism needs to be maintained through appearance to send positive information regarding one’s capability.
A hospital environment is one of the most devastating places where people with bad attitudes can work. Many patients who are brought to the health facility are either faced with severe injuries, seriously ill, dirty, or bedridden. This situation requires a nurse with a positive attitude because it will determine how well the victim will be handled. Additionally, the perception of an individual to the outside world determines the relationship with people around him. A nurse with a bad attitude can make the work of his or her colleagues miserable by displaying a bad reaction to the patients. Sometimes professionals with bad attitudes look for attention to control the healthcare facility environment. The nursing job does not require such characteristics because it is bound by the code of ethics to provide care for others rather than focusing on your problems (Deirdre, 2013). It is expected that all nurses should remain with a positive attitude even when they are faced with the slightest threat to a positive outlook during providing care. For example, when a patient is subjected to further treatment contrary to his or her expectation, the nurse’s attitude should be positive for making sure the patient that it is the best procedure to recover completely. The attitude provides the whole mark for nurses into which the success of ensuring quality health care is enshrined. As a result, all nurses have to remain professional at the workplace and maintain a positive attitude as much as possible, even when he or she is stressed or faced with problems at home.
The willingness to help others provides the sole rule that a nurse will encompass in the whole of his or her professional duty. At some point, when they are on duty, some situations require emergency care to save lives. Here, the nurse’s response is very important because it presents the patient with attention before the situation gets worse. Also, there are situations where an individual worker is not sufficient to provide care and there is a need for teamwork. Willingness to be part of a team will ensure that all nurses join hands to promote the quality of life for the patient. Emergency cases at the healthcare facility may arise at any time, even during the night. In such a scenario, a nurse may be called upon out of duty to come and help. The intrinsic urge to help others establishes the driving force that will ensure that the nurse speeds up to team with his or her colleagues to provide services (Stacy, 2012).
Conclusion
In conclusion, Team spirit in the nursing profession is a key ingredient of success that is directly connected to success. This can only be achieved if appearance, attitude, and desire to help others drive the professional conduct for nurses. All nursing associations have drafted the code of ethics for their own members. Therefore, it is a requirement for all players to abide by the regulations on professionalism.
References
American Nurses Association. (2011). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Washington, DC: American Nurses Publishing.
Deirdre, W. (2013).Professionalism is the best regulator of nursing care. Bristol: University of the West of England Press.
Donahue, P. (2010). Nursing, The Finest Art: An Illustrated History. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine.
Stacy, L. (2012). Dress to Impress: Secrets of Proper Attire. Florida: Florida State University Press.