Professional Nursing

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Professional Nursing - the performance for a fee, salary or other reward or compensation of professional services

• Undertaking responsible nursing care and supervision of patients involving the whole management of care, requiring or application of principles of the biologic, physical and behavioral sciences
• Observation of the signs of physical as well as mental conditions and needs requiring evaluation or application of principles of biologic, physical and behavioral sciences
• Accurate reporting and recording of facts including evaluation of the whole case
• Supervision of others contributing to nursing care of patients
• Execution of nursing procedures and techniques
• Direction and education to secure physical mental care
• Application and execution of legal orders in writing of physician's orders concerning treatment and medication

Determinants of Professional Practice

• Problems and needs of the people
• Policies and regulations
• Current socio-economic-political and cultural systems

Levels of Care of Nursing Practice

• Promotion of Health
• Prevention of Illness
• Restoration of Health
• Consolation of Dying

NURSING FUNCTIONS

• Independent Functions

1. Involve actions which the nurse initiates herself
2. Autonomous actions based on scientific rationale that is executed to benefit the client in a predicted way related to the nursing diagnosis and client-centered goals
3. Can solve client's problems without consultation to other health care professionals
4. E.g. Health teachings

• Dependent Functions

1. Based on the physician's response to a medical diagnosis
2. The nurse intervenes by carrying out physician's written orders, but requires nursing judgment or decision making
3. E.g. Administration of medications

• Interdependent or Collaborative

1. Therapies that require the knowledge, skill and expertise of multiple health care professionals

CLASSIFICATION OF NURSES

• According to types of position held
1. Administrator or administrative assistant
2. Consultant
3. Supervisor or assistant supervisor
4. Professor, lecturer or instructor
5. Dean or college secretary
6. Head nurse or assistant head nurse
7. Chief nurse
8. General duty nurse or staff nurse
• According to Professional Status

1. Active
2. Inactive

• According to Types of Duty

1. General duty nurses
2. Private duty nurses

• According to the Fields of Nursing where they Devote their Practice

1. Hospital or institutional nurse
2. Public health nurses
3. Nurse educators

Roles and Functions of the Nurse

• Care Provider.  The nurse supports the client by attitudes and actions that show concern for client welfare and acceptance of the client as a person. The nurse is primarily concerned with the client's needs
• Communicator. The nurse communicates with clients, support persons and colleagues to facilitate all nursing actions
• Teacher.  The nurse provides health teaching to effect behavior change which focuses on acquiring new knowledge or technical skills. This role gives emphasis on health promotion and health maintenance
• Counselor. The nurse helps the client to recognize and cope with stressful psychological or social problems, to develop improved personal relationships and promote personal growth. This role includes providing emotional, intellectual and psychologic support
• Client Advocate. The nurse promotes what is best for the client, ensures that the client's needs are met and protect client's rights
• Change Agent. The nurse initiates changes and assist the client make modifications in the lifestyle to promote health
• Leader. The nurse through the process of interpersonal influence helps the client make decisions in establishing and achieving goals to improve his well-being.
• Manager. The nurse plans, gives directions, develops staff, monitors operations, gives rewards fairly and represents both staff members and administration as needed. The nurse manages the nursing care of individuals, groups, families and communities. The nurse manager delegates nursing activities to ancillary workers and other nurses and supervises and evaluates their performance.
• Researcher. The nurse participates in scientific investigation and sues research findings in practice. The nurse helps develop knowledge about health and the promotion of health over the full life span; care of persons with health problems and diasbilities; and nursing actions to enhance people's ability to respond effectively to actual or potential health problems
• Case Manager. The nurse coordinates the activities of other members of the health care team, such as nutritionists and physical therapists, when managing a group of client's care
• Collaborator. The nurse works in a combined effort with all those involved in care delivery, for a mutually acceptable plan to be obtained that will achieve common goals. The nurse initiates nursing actions within the health team.