CONTEMPORARY IMAGE OF
PROFESSIONAL NURSING
Core statement according to
Royal College of Nursing 2003
“Nursing is the use of clinical judgment in the
provision of care to enable people to improve,
maintain, or recover health, to cope with health
problems, and to achieve the best possible
quality of life, whatever their disease or
disability, until death.”
Collegiality
Standard of ANA – Scope and Standards of
Practice, 2004
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Be civil
Be ethical
Be honest
Be the best
Be consistent
Be a communicator
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Be accountable
Be collaborative
Be forgiving
Be current
Be involved
Be a model
Nursing Shortage – Current Scenario
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Average age of nursing graduate is 33
Average age of RN is 44
Average age of faculty is 50
By 2015, 50% of RNs expected to retire
From 2006, job opportunities increased by
21%
TRENDS IN NURSING
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The Grim Reality
Trend#1: Nursing Shortage
Trend #2: Disparities in Healthcare
Trend #3:Skyrocketing Healthcare Cost
Trend#4: Nursing Values Challenged by Managed
Care
The Brighter Side
Trend#5: Expansion of employment opportunities
for Nurses
Trend #6: Nurses’ role have evolved
Trend#7: Nursing and Biomedical Research
Cont…
• Trend #8: Use of atomic energy for medical
diagnosis and treatment
• Trend#9: Use of more sophisticated equipment for
diagnosis and therapy
• Trend #10: Technology Made Nurses’ Life Easier
• Trend#11: Advent of Space Medicine
• Trend#12: Nurses involvement/ impact on politics
and health policy
• Trend #13: Consumerism in Healthcare
• Trend#14: Emergence of Complimentary and
Alternative Medicine
• Trend#15: Web-based Nursing Degrees
Four document nurses should possess
and READ
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State Nurse Practice Act
Nursing’s Social Policy Statement (ANA)
The Code of Ethics for Nurses (ANA)
Scope and Standards of Clinical Practice (area
specific or ANA)
Quality of Nursing Leadership
 Leaders are perceived as knowledgeable, strong, risktakers who follow a meaningful philosophy that is
made explicit in the day-to-day operations of the
department & convey a strong sense of advocacy
providing staff with an overall positive sense of support
 The nursing director and managers are pivotal to the
success of the organization
 The nursing director is critical to the development of
a positive nursing situation
Organizational Structure
 The director of nursing is at the executive level
of the organization, reporting directly to the chief
executive officer
 Decentralized departmental structures allow
for a sense of control over the immediate work
environment and strong nursing involvement in
the committee structure across departments
 With regard to staffing, quality of the staff is
as important as the quantity
Management Style
 Participative management style characterized by
involvement of staff at all levels
 Participation is sought, encouraged and
valued; nursing administration is both visible and
accessible
 Communication is a two way process with
active listening, direct staff input and ongoing
information about what is happening within
nursing and the broader organization
Professional Models of Care
Quality of Care
The model of care gives the nurse the responsibility and
related authority for patient care
 Nurses are accountable for their own practice and
are coordinators of care
 The nurses believe themselves to be providing high
quality of nursing care to their patients
 Directors of nursing and nursing management are
viewed as responsible for developing the environment
where such care can flourish
Nurses as Teachers
 Nurses place a high value on education and
teaching by nurses, not only their own personal
and professional growth, but they value their roles
as teachers
 Nurses derive much satisfaction from teaching
and it is viewed as an energizing activity
 Teaching is seen as both an expectation in the
profession and as an opportunity to practice as a
professional
Orientation, inservice, continuing education,
formal education and career development
 Magnet facilities have a high emphasis on
personnel growth and development; staff
development starts w/orientation & is a strong
influence on retention, w/ the gradual introduction
of work viewed as important
 Access to inservice & continuing education
related to the area of practice involved is
essential; multiple opportunities exist for clinical
advancement that is advancement that is
competency based w/specific requirements
Believe in Nursing
• Valuing Nursing
– Only RNs should attend nursing staff meetings
– Identify yourself
• Protect the name of “Nurse”
• Insist on being addressed as a professional
Creating a New Image
• Nurses value nursing and image it daily
• Nurses take themselves seriously and dress the
part
• Nurses recognize the value of caring, health
promotion, health teaching, and illness care
• Nurses believe in themselves and their
colleagues