NURSING - A PROFESSION

A profession is defined as an occupation with ethical components, that is devoted to the promotion of human and social welfare. The services offered by a profession are based on specialised knowledge and skills that have been developed in a scientific and learned manner.

1. A profession is a form of employment especially one that is respected in society as honourable and is possible only for an educated person and after training in some special branch of knowledge.
2. A profession has its own body of knowledge based on social and scientific principles.
3. The members of a profession utilise this knowledge to identify and solve the problems.
4. A profession has a service aim as well as academic and theoretical aim.the services offered by a profession are in response to the needs of the society and are fundamental to the promotion of human and social welfare.
5. A profession constantly enlarges its body of knowledge through research in order to improve its services to the society.
6. A profession determines the qualifications necessary for those who enter into practice.
7. A profession has a code of ethics.
8. A profession recognises its responsibilities to develop educational programmes in co-operation with the educational institutions in order to offer specialised study and practice required to learn the methods of service and develop skills for the better service of the society.

Professional nursing is a service promoted to the promotion of human and social welfare. Nursing helps to attain this objective by applying scientific knowledge and skills to the services which include caring for the sick, promotion and restoration of health and prevention of diseases. These services are provided in co-operation with the medical and paramedical groups that are concerned with the health care. The professional nursing services meet the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of the human beings.

A professional nurse

Professional nurse is a graduate of a recognised nursing school or college who has met the requirements for a registered nurse in a region or state in which she/he is licensed to practice.