The Importance Of Professionalism In Nursing

In order to determine how a nurse works as a professional, it is important to first define the duties of a nurse. Potter et al. says that according to the American Nurses Association, it includes: "the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response; and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations" (2015, p. 2).

While ideas of what constitutes professionalism in the field of nursing have long remained the same, nurses are now held to an even higher standard. In addition to traditional values, nurses are now expected to strongly advocate for their clients, rather than subscribe to the old model of simply following the doctor 's orders (Williams & Hopper, 2015). Advocacy is a broad spectrum that includes looking out for the best interest of the client, and the nurse as well.

Advocating for clientele involves stepping up to the plate to prevent, solve and follow up on problems as they arise. At times, this means going against to the grain to ensure that the needs and rights of the client are met, in the most appropriate manner (Potter et al., 2015). An example of this is speaking with a nutritionist and provider about a patient 's increasing difficulty with swallowing and starting the conversation about protocols for dysphagia. Another example is a nurse being prudent about observing for signs of extrapyramidal side