Nursing Profession in Australia - Essay Example

Nursing Profession in Australia Introduction Over the last 150 years or so the nursing in Australia has transformed into a full-fledged profession that is now bound by the code of ethics and governed by well laid down professional standards of practice making it an integral part of medical care. Australian nursing has drawn its code of ethics based on its own need and also from the international practices to achieve excellence in the profession. This transformation has come over a period in the wake of the series of developments that are worth exploring. Nursing profession in its true sense is said to have started from the period of Florence Nightingale when in 1854, she along with her staff of 38 women nurses departed for Turkey for the place called Crimea to attend on the wounded soldiers in the military hospital. On visit, she found that wounded soldiers were not properly cared for due to indifference of officers. Medicines were not available in adequate quantity and proper hygiene was not maintained. Mortality rate was quite high. She made a lot of changes in the hospital. By February 1855, she brought down the mortality rate first from 60% to 42.7% and then restoring the fresh water supply along with supplying fruits, vegetables from her own funds, she further brought down the mortality rate to 2.2 percent. That was perhaps the first recognition to the nursing profession in true sense of the word when medical profession started making nursing as an integral part of the medical treatment. Since then Nightingale became an institution and a role model for future generations in nursing profession. (McNamara, 2011) In 1856, she pressed the need for better hygiene conditions in all military hospitals of U.K. On her insistence, Royal Commission on the Health of the Army was established. It was in 1860 when the Nightingale Training School was established on two basic principles; first, that nurses should get training in hospitals and second was that nurses should live in a home devoted to discipline and moral life. Through this school, Nightingale transformed nursing from its disreputable past to a respectable career for all. (Florence Nightingale) Nursing Profession in Australia It was in 1902, that the Australian Army Nursing Service was formed and since then more than 6,700 nurses have served not only in two world wars but in the wars of Korean, Vietnam, and the Gulf wars. (South Australians…) Before World War II, the training and education of nurses in Australia was modelled on apprenticeship. Students got selected on the basis of their moral and educational standards. Students were not charged for lodging, boarding or for vocational training. After completion of the training they were supposed to provide the services to the hospital. Students used to gain valuable experience under the supervision of the 'Ward Sister' in different areas. Ward Sisters were trained and qualified nurses and capable to train student nurses. The system was known as 'Nightingale System’ and got established so firmly that it remained unchanged for several decades. (National Review…) Another era of nursing is said to have started from 1943 that remained until 1984.That started with the pressure on old system of training. Recurring shortages of nurses was due to resignation of many practicing nurses and also due to high dropout ratio among nurses under training. The reasons were mainly status of nursing, their wages, and work conditions. In 1943, the Kelly committee suggested various measures to improve the status of nurses and the complete overhauling of the training of nurses. The committee further suggested to appoint sister tutors and sister instructors to all training schools at the postgraduate level and to establish a College of Nursing. (National Review…) Subsequently, almost 25 years later in 1967, the Institute of Hospital Matrons of New South Wales along with Australian Capital Territory came forward to appoint a Committee to look into the various aspects of nursing. The report emphasised to prepare for training on nursing procedures as quickly as possible. The committee stressed the need on preparation of a nurse for they were not in a position to cope up with new technical advances in medicine as they were resistant to change. The New South Wales Ministry published a report in 1970 that recommended transferring the education of nurses under the Ministry of Education. The recommendations made consisted of the Higher School Certification as a minimum standard of entry; Schools of Nursing and Colleges of Advanced Education should take responsibility for courses granting diplomas; small hospitals should not be involved in training; and financial support as well as scholarships be granted during education. (National Review…) Transfer of Nurse Education into Higher Education Sector Rapid advancement in medical sciences during 1980s strongly influenced nursing and its image. Foley (1984) argues that the role of nurses become more complex and at this time nursing authorities began to look into new ways and means of nursing to adjust with new advancement. The Commonwealth also declared its support for the preparation of nurse education and training from the hospitals to higher education sector. The key objective was to assess whether this transfer had resulted into career choices for nurses and professional preparation. The findings informed that the effects of transfer had been uneven; however, it did notice that objective of broader professional preparation of nurses was achieved. (Foley, 1984, p 41-42) Twenty five years back, women nurses were considered different from other working women and were supposed to possess some unique qualities. Personal attributes were considered more as a necessity to become an ideal nurse. Bridges (1990) argued the qualities of kindness, obedience, devotion selflessness, and dignity that attracted the women in this profession. These noble ideas provided a charm in society and elevated the nursing professions to new heights. (Bridges, 1990 p 850-852) It is quite obvious that with increasing role of nurses, their obligations and responsibilities also vary time to time. No one rule, code or guidelines can inform always what to do in a given situation but UKCC Code of Conduct (1992) helps in setting out important principles such as acknowledging limitations in competence and knowledge in the same way as maintain and improve professional knowledge and competence. The principle of accountability is clearly stated in UKCC (1992), which becomes a basis for the nurse’s on job responsibility in relation to the various tasks assigned. (UKCC Code of Conduct 1992) The Characteristics of Nursing Profession According to Kelly (1995), there are eight characteristics of a nursing profession that can be listed in brief, as per the following. The health care services are critical to humanity and for the wellbeing of society; it requires a specialized knowledge and that keeps on enlarging through research; practitioners are qualified in higher level institutions; practitioners are motivated towards their work; there is a code of ethics in guiding their conducts and decisions; nursing services call for individual responsibility and accountability; autonomy and independence are in roots of these services; organisation constantly encourages high standard of practice. (Kelly, 1995, p.181-185) These set of characteristics provide a holistic view point of nursing profession and makes a basis to develop an appropriate code of conduct. In 1990, the necessity for the development of the code surfaced during the Australasian Nurse Registering Authorities Conference (ANRAC) when it was found that a clear focus was not emerging on the ethical standards of the nurses. It was in 1993 that the Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia was first developed under the auspices of the Royal College of Nursing, Australian Nursing Federation, and the Australian Nursing Council Inc. They were again reviewed in 2000. It is to guide them for ethical decision making and practices besides, identifying the ethical standards and values to which the entire nursing community is committed. It provides them a basis from which to derive the conduct for self and others. Currently, ethical code in Australia establishes that Nursing Professionals respect the diversity of people in terms of ethnicity, creed and culture; they respect safety aspects in nursing and health; they respect ethical management of information; they value kindness and respect for self and other; they believe in quality care for all people; they believe in informed decision making; they believe in culture of safety in healthcare; and they believe in sustainability of environment in promoting healthcare. (Code of Ethics…) This Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia is relevant at all levels and areas of practice. This Code describes the nursing profession’s requirement to protect, respect, and promote, the fundamental rights of people taking these services. The code is to be taken in conjunction with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses as to form a complementary part of it. The ICN code of ethics for nursing informs, “The nurse’s primary professional responsibility is to people requiring nursing care.” (The ICN code… 2005) The Code of Ethics and the Code for Professional Conduct for Nurses go hand in hand. The Code of Professional Conduct asks for the minimum requirements for practices in the profession. The work attitude while discharging the duties is important for patient's care and well being. While talking about professionalism in the nursing, it implies to sticking to the rules and regulations based on medical guidelines without bringing any emotional factor in between. Among all medical staff, nurses are nearest to the patient. As a care taker and service provider, breaching professional behavior means deviating from the focus of care and that may have serious consequences for a patient. By virtue of being an intimate caretaker nurses hold patient’s confidential information and they need to use judgment while sharing them with others. Thus, respecting the privacy is also one of the important professional necessities on part of the nurse forming a bond of trust between nurse and patient. (Hendrick, 2000, p 101-103) Conclusion It has been more than 160 years since the beginning of nursing profession when Florence Nightingale taught the world about the importance of nursing. Medical science has advanced since then a lot but at no period of time the importance of nursing profession has diminished. On the contrary, nursing has been proved to be an integral part of health care services in Australia and in entire world given the fact ageing population is on rise in many parts of world necessitating host of ethical and professional standards to create a healthy society. Based on the need of time, the code of ethics and professionalism has now became major guiding principles for all nursing fraternity maintaining the healthy working environment and meeting the needs of all concerned. References 1. Birdges, J.M (1990). Literature Review on the Images of the Nurse and Nursing in the Media. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 15 (7), 850-852. 2. Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia (n.d). Retrieved April 29, 2011 from http://www.nrgpn.org.au/index.php?element=ANMC+Code+of+Ethics 3. Florence Nightingale (n.d). Retrieved April 29, 2011 from http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Nightingale.html 4. Foley, E.R (1984). Changing role of nurses within the health care organisation. The Australian Nurses Journal, 13 (9) 41-42, 46 5. Hendrick, Judith (2000). Law and Ethics in Nursing and Health Care. Stanley Thomes, London 6. The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses 2005. Retrieved April 29, 2011 from http://www.icn.ch/images/stories/documents/about/icncode_english.pdf 7. Kelly, Lucie Y; Joel, Lucille A. (1995). Dimensions of Professional Nursing. McGraw-Hill (Tx) P. 181-185 8. McNamara, Robert (2011). Florence Nightingale, the Lady with the Lamp. Retrieved May 2, 2011 from http://history1800s.about.com/od/majorfigures/p/fnightingale01.htm 9. National Review of Nursing Education, (n.d), Retrieved April 29, 2011 from http://www.dest.gov.au/archive/highered/programmes/nursing/paper1.htm#3_5 10. South Australians at War, (n.d). Retrieved April 29, 2011 from http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=993 11. UKCC (1992), Code of Professional Conduct. United Kingdom Combined Council, London. p.66,81 Read More