Nursing associations: Is there a need for professional organizations? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Throughout its history, nursing has struggled to establish itself as a separate, worthy profession with a unique set of paradigms and ways of knowing. Nurses are not simply inferior doctors or the helpers of doctors, as was once commonly thought. Professional associations play a vital role in establishing nurses' credibility. Such associations often take on the responsibility for systemizing theories of professional knowledge; defining specializations of the profession and specialist definitions; raising educational and practice standards; offering professional education; creating a base of authority and approval within the profession and larger society; defining ethics and enabling the profession to self-regulate and define its ethical standards (Matthews 2010).
Although professional associations serve a vital function for all professions, it could be argued that for nurses the need is particularly acute, given the volatility of the healthcare profession. To save costs, many institutions are asking nurses to take on an increasingly challenging workload, subsuming many of the tasks once relegated exclusively to doctors. Conversely, some physicians' assistants may be asked to perform tasks that should be performed by nurses. Nursing associations help ensure that the limits and scope of the profession are defined in terms of core competencies for generalists and specialists and the groups can act as advocates for members of the profession to define their rights. Nursing associations can also define issues such as workplace safety; help resolve ethical conflicts such as patient confidentiality and appropriateness of treatment; and the role of different specialties within the profession.
Nursing associations also have a valuable role in educating the public. This can also promote the mission of nurses, given the nurse's role as a teacher. Dealing...
It provides health-related advice on its website that all readers can benefit from, not simply those who use its services. As well as reaching out to the wider population of patients, it honors those within its fold who serve the organization with nights such as its "Celebrating Our Talent" ceremony designed to honor organizational members who have shown excellence in their duties (Boyd 2012). The climate at the organization stresses
Nursing Research Utilization Project Proposal: Hospital Noise The level of noise in a hospital is a serious issue for the nurses and the patients. Surveys have been created in an effort to determine if the noise is bothersome, what kinds of problems it causes, and whether there is anything that can be done about the noise levels. It is important not only to identify the problem, but to determine what can
" (Grossman & Valiga, p. 165) The text goes on to assert that the creation of such an environment should be at least in part facilitated by the establishment of open lines of communication. Where nurses feel free to voice concerns, express positions based on professional experience and contribute to courses of treatment, feelings of morale and therefore performance levels are both likely to be higher. Therefore, the use of networking
Professional Nursing Associations: Rationale A professional association refers to "an organization of practitioners who judge one another as professionally competent and who have banded together to perform social functions which they cannot perform in their separate capacities as individuals" (Merton, as cited in Matthews, 2012). Nursing has, over time, developed to professional status and is at present characterized by numerous national professional associations. Whether or not these associations add value to
Nursing Dear Casey, I hope all is well with you and your family. It's been a while since I've written; forgive me as I've been busy with school, work and life in general. Over the past few weeks, I've become quite interested in the life and triumphs of Clara Barton, a 19th century nurse, teacher and pioneer who was by my account, a woman way ahead of her time. Clara Barton
Therefore, I would tell the patient that their symptoms should not be considered in isolation of their whole person. Websites that address symptoms only are not taking into account the wealth of factors that can influence the diagnosis of a specific disease. At the same time, patients have the right to know about alternative solutions other than those provided or suggested by the physician or health care organization. Sometimes insurance
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