Internal And External Factors Influencing The Development Of Professional Identity In Post Baccalaureate Nursing

“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” Nursing is more than just doing assessments and giving medications; it is going beyond that to know what is right or wrong, what can and cannot be done, and what is considered harming the patients rather than doing them good. In nursing, there is a fine line between what is considered to be negligence and beneficence. According to Marquis (2017), “Ethics is the systemic study of what a person’s conduct and actions should be with regard to self, others human beings, and the environment (pg. 83), on the other hand, it does not necessarily mean that their

And all of them continue to develop with wide-ranging nursing research. We will continue our analysis using professional nursing practice in New Zealand. In modern days all nurses have to obtain the bachelor of nursing degree to become a registered nurse. So universities and polytechnics are the main providers of nursing degree. They are closely supervised by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) to ensure the compliance with the requirements of competencies for registered nurses. In New Zealand before you can practice you have to obtain the registration from NCNZ through passing the states final and being fit to practice. Fit to practice means you have to be of a good character, speak good English, and have to acquire the necessary knowledge (NCNZ, n.d.). Also nurses have to provide selfless service and think about the nursing profession when they represent themselves in the society. As any other profession nursing has to abide to the code of ethics. It consists of set of values which applies to nurse- client relationship, nurse-colleague, nurse-organization and nurse-society relationships. They all include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, confidentiality, veracity, fidelity, guardianship of the environment and its resources, being professional in the context with the above relationships (New Zealand Nurses Organization, 2010). So as we found out nursing has got all necessary features of the profession. Professional nursing practice has got four

Professional identity has become a necessary concept to employees who are working in a health and human-serviced environment because it comprehends the image and perceptions of individuals that has based on the way she/ he performs a job or operates within their career field (Brott & Myers, 1999; Smith & Robinson, 1995). Therefore, in nursing occupation, professional identity is considered to be the most important concept that to prove their patients their skills and knowledge in their field. This essay further focuses on the precise definition of professional identity as well as nursing identity, the key industry and quality agencies and association that set standards, guidelines, and codes of practice in nursing and how industry and professional agencies monitor the quality of care and services in professional nursing.

Ethical knowing or the moral direction of nursing is focused on the nurses’ responsibility of knowing what out to be done and what is good and right (Carper, 1978). Ethical knowing “guides and directs how nurses morally behave in their practices” (Chinn & Maeona, 2011, p. 7). This nurse practices ethics by being a patient advocate and preserving his client's right to choose or refuse care. This patient advocacy will continue as this nurse advances to the role of APN.

“The nurse has a basic concern for people as human beings, confidence in the fundamental power of personality for good, respect for religious beliefs of others, and a philosophy which will sustain and inspire others as well as herself” (ANA, 1940; p. 980). The documentary “The American Nurse”, explores some of the biggest issues the United States faces today- aging, war, poverty, and prisons- through the lives of five very different nurses and their work as health care providers. The film examines real life people in their everyday lives as nurses which changes the way one looks at and thinks about the entire concept of nursing. Nursing is not merely a job, nor is it simply an occupation or a profession. To be a nurse, one must uphold the finest of standards and ethics, dedicating their entire lives to helping and serving others. Therefore, it cannot simply be a behavior; it is a lifestyle.

The learner must achieve a sense of identity in occupation, politics, and values. Professional identity involves the internalization of core values which becomes evident as the student learns, gains experience, and grows as a professional (Benner et al., 2010). Professional identity is foundational to the assumption of various nursing roles. In the age of collaborative practice, it may be especially challenging for the novice to distinguish nursing practice from that of other health care providers. Experience has taught this learner what to expect and how to respond in a given situation. The proficient learner begins to view the whole situation. This holistic understanding makes decision less difficult (Benner et al., 2010).

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics provides many professional traits that can be incorporated to an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals such as compassion and respect, advocacy, accountability for nursing practice and participation in advancement of the nursing career (Cherry, 2011). Compassion is a very important aspect of the nursing profession. It would be very difficult to be a nurse without being compassionate. Nurses demonstrate compassion and respect daily in their work by actively listening to patients’ and family members’ problems and concerns and by empathy when appropriate. Advocacy is a nursing trait constantly used by the entire interdisciplinary team. Nurses advocate for patients’ right of autonomy for decision making in regards to their care, treatments and procedures. Also, nurses are in the best position to serve as a bridge between the patient and the interdisciplinary team. Accountability is so essential in the nursing profession. Nurses are accountable for their own nursing practices and for our patients.

I learned that as a nurse it is my duty to always consider my own well being, along with my patient’s. I must keep a high moral character both in the workplace and in my personal life. I must continue to educate myself and keep myself up to date with all the latest nursing practices and research. I must subject myself to peer review and evaluation. I must never let my personal feelings about a patient’s lifestyle affect my care for them. When met with a tough choice that places me in an ethical crisis I must keep a good head on my shoulders and always have my patient’s best interests in mind. If I feel that a situation at work is in direct conflict with my personal values or my oath to be an ethical nurse I must go through the proper channels to work through the problem.

“Autonomous nursing practice as defined as full command of expert knowledge and allowing for accountability and authority in decision making” (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, pg. 47). A doctor will more likely see a nurse as a professional once they show competence and autonomy, which in turn, will provide a positive nurse-physician relationship due to the trust built between professionals. A physician must be able to trust a nurse’s judgment and assessment skills to be able to provide a collaborative care for the patient. The wheel of professionalism is designed to compare nurses' professional behavior with other professions, which places university-based education as central to professionalism, which then leads to a strong code of ethics, professional recognition and continuing education to maintain nursing competence (Yam, 2004). As a nurse achieves a status of professionalism, a nurse will view oneself as an equal partner in the health care team, which in turn will boost confidence and support for a more proactive and confident nurse.

Nurses develop professional skills through a process called “Professionalization.” Ghadirian uses four factors to describe this; cognitive dimension, attitudinal dimension and psychomotor dimension. They then further describe the cognitive dimension as the “professional knowledge” a nurse must have (2014). Without knowledge of illness or the human body, a nurse can not practice professionally. Ghadirian then suggests that even with extensive professional knowledge, a nurse can not be professional without the ideals and ethics of a nurse, or the ability to provide care (2014). A nurse can not be professional without all the dimensions. A nurse must have the values of a nurse, knowledge of a nurse and the ability to provide care.

For a quantitative study I chose the topic of moral distress. The title of this study is “Exploring the Moral Distress of Registered Nurses” authored by Patti Rager Zuzelo.

This paper seeks to expand upon the 2010 Institute of Medicine’s report on the future of nursing, leading change, advancing health and illustrating its impact on nursing education, practice and leadership. There is an ongoing transformation in the healthcare system necessitated by the need to achieve a patient centered care in the community, public, and primary care settings in contrast to previous times. Nurses occupying vital roles in the healthcare system, need improvements in the areas mentioned above to

When I walked into the facility, I noticed a client was waving at me to come over to the client. I walked over to the client and the client started spelling out my name in sign language. I had taken a sign language camp several years ago. I started to do sign language with the client. To see the smile of the clients’ face was uplifting. Having this experience, I was able to establish my professional identity by communicating with a deaf client who wanted someone to sit down and play a game of Monopoly. As stated in the article Nursing Professional Identity: an infant or the one with Alzheimer’s, Professional identity includes acquiring insight to professional functioning, creating professional ideals and values. It can be defined as attitudes,

A professional nursing practice is predicated on many tenets, which ensure optimal functionality and growth. A successful organization requires the systematic employment of ethical values, as well as structural, organizational and relational leadership. In essence, a nursing practice must fortify its corporate structure, productivity, operational flow, and professional relationships in order to thrive. The purpose of an organizational meeting is to address the foundational elements of a successful practice. Along with delineating guidelines, a meeting should reinforce structure, a unified sense of purpose, and address lingering issues.

My professional development plan is to grow as a nurse by obtaining knowledge through school and daily life and work experiences. In five to 10 years, I will be able care for patients and their families as a nurse practitioner. Setting short-term and long-term goals will help guide through the journey to transition into the role of professional nursing and provide new opportunities for the future. Beliefs and values influence the decisions or choices people make in their personal and professional lives. My philosophy of nursing incorporates my beliefs and values, which includes being an advocate for patients and