Professional Identity of Nursing - Essay Example

Professional Identity of Nursing Table of Contents Introduction 2 Value of Modern Nursing 3 Social, Cultural and Political Values 5 Impact of Professional Regulation 6 Role of NMC in the Protection of Public 7 Conclusion and Recommendations 8 References 9 Introduction Professional identity has become one of the most significant concepts in the field of nursing. It can be linked to the facet of self-esteem of the nurses. A number of the scholars have defined professional identity as values as well as beliefs considered by the nurses that guide their thinking, interactions and actions with the patients. However, in the present times, nursing as a profession has been a debatable issue (The Scottish Government, 2012). Professional image can be recognised as the insights, feelings, beliefs and ideas that people tend to possess regarding the nurses and the nursing. Since last ten years, it has been observed that there have been major alterations in the images of the nurses. Media has been largely responsible in creating a somewhat derogatory image (Andrew, 2012). The main objective of the paper is to identify how nursing as a profession challenges the professional identity of an individual. The study will also aim at identifying the values of modern nursing along with the social, cultural and political factors impacting the profession. It will also highlight upon the impact of professional regulations and the role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the protection of the public. Value of Modern Nursing In the nineteenth century, nursing was not considered as an identifiable as well as self-conscious occupation. Until the year 1923, one was free to describe him/her-self as a nurse. A sick person was generally provided care at home by the members of the family or he/she was assisted by one or two paid workers. Nursing was regarded as a duty which was an extended part of a woman’s domestic roles (Mortimer, 2005). Florence Nightingale, who is regarded as the creator of contemporary nursing, mentioned the fact that the duty of the nurse is to put a patient in the best possible condition where nature would be responsible or capable to cure the patient. In the present times, the nurses are trained to work in the variable internal as well as the external contexts in order to reinstate individuals, communities as well as families to their full potentials for gaining wellness. Nursing essentially involves providing care to the vulnerable, needy and weak patients. However, the works of the nurses are often taken for granted and thus they go under-compensated (Stockwell, 2010). The value of nursing is often impacted by cultural alterations and factors associated with globalisation, progresses made in the fields of technology as well as medicine (Braxter & Bramfitt, 2008). These factors are crucial in offering a structured as well as evaluated view regarding what nursing is, which will lead to greater job satisfactions among the nurses, better nurse maintenance as well as improved patient care within a supportive as well as pleasant organisation (Horton & et. al., 2007). It can be observed that since the mid-1970s, nursing commentators have become highly conscious of the images of the nurses with regard to professional identity by moving in the mass media, claiming the fact that nursing is distorted and poorly comprehended by producers, writers as well as visual image makers (Horton & et. al., 2007). The modern dilemma faced by the nursing profession has been related to the gendered identity of healthcare professionals. Most of the people have wrong perception that nurses are generally female. However, the fact is that nurses may either be male or female (NursingTimes, 2010). Social, Cultural and Political Values Physical and emotional closeness along with intimacy are considered to be values that are stimulated by modern nursing feeling in nurse-patient relationship. They are administered through a form of knowing the patient thereby creating a feeling of proximity (Charles-Jones & et. al., 2003). There is a close link between the values and the cultural systems because a person’s culture has a considerable bearing upon what value system he or she may adhere to since it shapes the ideas, values and belief systems to which a person is committed. It can be observed that the nursing codes tend to possess values embodied in them. In the United Kingdom, the registered nurses need to follow the code of professional moral values which has an impact on the ways the nurses think and act and thus plays a significant role in the patient care. It can be observed that conflict might arise when there is a difference in the value systems thereby leading to stress, burnout, anxiety and resignation. This can have a significant impact upon the healthcare organisations leading to poor patient care by the nurses and thus they may fail to meet set standards and targets (Swanson & et. al., 2004). People travel to distant places for the purpose of business and for recreational activities thereby leading to rise in the global markets. Internationalisation of the organisations leads to migration and this tends to possess an impact upon the daily activities of the nurses. Furthermore, spread of disease and international terror are considered to be the issues that are impacting the health and the way the nurses’ work. There have been changes in the nursing practices over the last 100 years. A few of the alterations that can have an impact upon the direct delivery of the nursing care emanate from high difficulty and diversity of medical as well as surgical interventions (Hallam, 2000). Impact of Professional Regulation Nursing as a profession in the United Kingdom is a component of the higher education system since over a decade and it has been taking its path towards graduate position as a profession. By adhering to good practice guidelines as well as professional body regulations, the profession comprises communities of reference so that the nurses’ current as well as future identities can be shaped (Andrew, 2012). In the United Kingdom, a professional body namely the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) expects that the nurses’ main duty needs to focus upon taking good care of the people. It further expects the nurses to be personally accountable for their actions, to cooperate with the colleagues and thus keep up-to-date records of the patients. According to the code of ethics, a nurse is supposed to be committed to the patient and thus assume the role of the advocacy. It also mandates that the nurses must demonstrate respect and kindness towards the patients and thus report to the management regarding the care that is potentially unprincipled, insecure, and unlawful or unskilled, which presents a challenge for the nurses (Ford, 2010). Role of NMC in the Protection of Public Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is a legislative commission developed by the UK Parliament by means of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 to create and to administer a register related to competent nurses as well as midwives from time to time so that standards of ability can be created which need to be met by the applicants. It can be mentioned that the main objective of the standards for registration is to offer the method by means of which the NMC can practice its main role of protecting the public. There are essentially four key areas of principle such as preparation, service, recognition and responsibility. It has further been observed that the NMC has been provided a clear order to monitor superior nursing practices and thus shield the title ‘nurse’. The title of the nurse is not protected legally and thus it can be utilised by other professionals who are not registered nurses. Hence, through such mandates the professional identities of the nurses could be preserved (Ford, 2010). Conclusion and Recommendations Professional identity refers to that nurses’ conception regarding what it means to be and act as a nurse. It essentially represents the philosophy of nursing. It has been viewed that the identity of nursing as well as the identities of people as nurses have faced tremendous challenges. Concurrently, this occupation has also gained benefits from innovation in training and alterations in the organisational structures to assist the nurses to undertake more leadership roles and gain enhancements in the pay (Crawford & et. al., 2007). With substantial alterations and numerous policies and guidelines directing the nurses, it is vital to evaluate the reflexive account that the nurses possess of their collective identity. One of the biggest challenges faced by the nurses has been lack of recognition. Nursing staff are responsive to concerns regarding the professional identity; however they do not appear to possess the assurance in performing their roles that are expected from professional groups. In such a context, it is quite significant to educate the nurses so that they can gain self-belief to work. The regulators need to play a vital part in promoting the roles of the nurses among the public and thus need to construct an identity for the nursing profession. The male candidates also need to be encouraged to enter into the nursing profession which will facilitate to remove the common perception regarding nurses that only females can enter into the profession. Male candidates also need to gain recognition as nurses. Application of various rules and regulations in the nursing profession will assist in maintaining the professional identity by specifying the codes of conduct for the nurses. It can be viewed that NMC needs to play an active role in preserving the professional identities of the nurses. NMC can prevent any kind of misconduct from taking place in a healthcare organisation which impedes the professional identities of the nurses. Thus, the healthcare organisations need to report to the NMC in case if they find any illegal conduct taking place in the organisation. References Andrew, N., 2012. “Professional Identity In Nursing: Are We There Yet”, Nurse Educ Today. Braxter, S. & Bramfitt, B., 2008. “Professional Differences In Interprofessional Working”, Journal of Inter-professional Care. Vol: 22, Iss: 3, pp. 239-251. Charles-Jones, H. & et. al., 2003. “Transforming General Practice: The Redistribution Of Medical Work In Primary Care”, Sociology of Health & Illness. Vol: 25, Iss: 1, pp. 71-99. Crawford, P. & et. al., 2007. “Professional Identity In Community Mentalhealth Nursing: A Thematic Analysis”, International Journal of Nursing Studies. Vol: 45, pp. 1055–1063. Ford, S., 2001. NMC Welcomes Mandate To Regulate Advanced Nursing Roles. News. [Online] Available at: http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/pms-commission/nmc-welcomes-mandate-to-regulate-advanced-nursing-roles/5012125.article [Accessed June 16, 2012]. Horton, K. & et. al., 2007. “The Value of Nursing: a Literature Review”, Nurse Ethics. Vol: 14, Iss: 6, pp. 716-740. Hallam, J., 2000. Nursing the Image: Media, Culture, and Professional Identity. Routledge. Mortimer, B., 2005. New Directions in the History of Nursing: International Perspectives. Routledge. NursingTimes, 2010. Exploring How Nursing Uniforms Influence Self Image And Professional Identity. Research Report. [Online] Available at: http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/educators/exploring-how-nursing-uniforms-influence-self-image-and-professional-identity/5012623.article [Accessed June 16, 2012]. Swanson, K. M. & et. al., 2004. “Optimal Healing Environments in Nursing”, The Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine. Vol: 10, Iss: 1, 2004, pp.43–48. Stockwell, F., 2010. A Contemporary Perspective on Florence Nightingale's Writings in Notes on Nursing and Florence Nightingale to her Nurses. Introduction. [Online] Available at: http://www.felicitystockwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Florence-Nightingale-modern-nursing.pdf [Accessed June 16, 2012]. The Scottish Government, 2012. Framework for Developing Nursing Roles. Publications. 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