Running head: Professionalism in Nursing

Professionalism in Nursing
Nikki Howell
Stanbridge College
Medical Surgical Rotation
Professor Pat Sena

Running head: Professionalism in Nursing

2
Abstract

The impact of professionalism, as well as the impact of unprofessionalism, in the nursing field
and workforce. Having multiple age ranges in nursing education and out in the professional field
it leads to a wide range of benefits du to the vastly different experiences each individual has
leading up to their education which brings different characteristics to the combined learning
process. While the integrated learning process benefits it also leads to difficulty within the aspect
of instilling one of the central concepts of the nursing education, producing professional nurses.
With a vast variety of background and age each individual has a different opinion of
professionalism and outlook of what their goal in nursing is. Professionalism is an integral
necessity of a nurse to maintain the standard of care and patients trust.
1. Non-Biased Care For Patients
2. Integrity
3. Respect For Patients
4. Attitude
5. Appearance
6. Willingness To Help Others
7. Team Work
8. Honesty
9. Responsibility
10.Discipline

Running head: Professionalism in Nursing

Professionalism is one of the foundational key elements of nursing and is one of the most
integral parts of nursing since it not only affects patients but also fellow staff members and their
own satisfaction in their working environment. As nurses our environment is additionally an
effector of our care no matter where the care is situated.
Affects on Nurses
Temporarily setting the patient aspect to the side, if nurses lack professionalism it can
quickly deteriorate the working environment causing others to be unhappy and dissatisfied with
their position leading to emotional exhaustion. If a nurse is emotional exhausted they are unable
to have personal contentment leading to decreased productivity and declined outcomes, increased
turnover and lacking a positive environment for patient and their families. If nurses are happy
their feelings of happiness can prevail over negative emotions. It has been repeatedly time and
again shown that unhappy and/or negative individuals suffer from an increase in ill health and
fare poorer in recovery from major illnesses. If a nurse experiences poor health they are less
likely to be content with their life and have overall happiness which all can affect how well a
nurse provides care. Unhappy nurses or nurses unhappy with their work environment have a
higher likelihood of providing subpar care and have an increase in patient complications. Also
nurses who are engrossed in workplace disputes or quarrels are more likely to miss a sign or
symptom of a potential complication or imminent serious patient health issue.
Affects on Patients
Forapatienttotrusttheirhealthcareteamtheymustbeabletoexpectnonbiasedcare,
respectfortheirautonomy,honestyandintegrityfromthestaff.Whilewemayallwantto
believeitiswhatisontheinsidethatmattersitdoesnotchangethatpatientswillanddojudgeus
basedoffourappearance.Ourattitudeatwork,discipline,responsibilityandcohesive

Running head: Professionalism in Nursing

participationinthehealthcareteamisallseenbypatientswhomanytimesaresilentobserves.
Manynursesareunawareofpatientsquietlyobservingussincewehavebecomesousedtothe
constantpresenceofthem.Manytimesjusthavingapoorattitudewillcauseariftinthenursing
patientrelationship.Whilemanytimesitisthepatientwiththepoorattitude,lackofrespector
negativeattitude;therealsoaremanytimesthatnursesthemselvesarecreatingtheriftincare
withoutevenbeingawareoftheirnegativeeffectuponthesituation.Patientsaregenerallynever
inthehospitalorhealthcaresettingforajoyousoccasion,andeventhejoyouscanbelessthan
pleasurable,sonursesneedtobeempatheticandcompassionateoftheeventsleadingtothe
currentsituation.Apositivenursecanquicklychangeanunhappypatientsoutlookofthe
currentsituation,whichwillleadtoanincreaseincompliancewiththeplanofcareand
hopefullyabetteroutcome.
AsaWhole

Running head: Professionalism in Nursing

Professionalismisoneofthekeyfoundationsofbecominganurseandthereforeoneof
theintegralconceptsastudentlearnsduringtheirnursingeducationweatheritbeundergraduate
orpostgraduate.Withoutprofessionalismnursinginterventionsandnursingcarewouldhave
littletonoeffectonpatients.Everynursingstudentnomattertheirbackgroundentersintothe
beginningoftheirstudieswithsomebasicknowledgeofwhatanursedoes,whattheylooklike
andwhatanurseisbutwithoutattainingprofessionalismaspartoftheirprofessionalidentity
theirentireeducationisessentiallyuselesstotheirfuture.Whileprofessionalismispartofa
socialidentityitalsogoeshandinhandwiththeprofessionalidentity.Itaffectsourwork
environmentandlivingenvironmentallthatcaneventuallyaffectourhealthandourfuture.Not
onlydoesitaffectthenursesbutalsoitcanpositivelyoradverselyaffectourpatientsandtheir
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Running head: Professionalism in Nursing

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