This essay attempts to provide critical analysis in response to the article “What’s in a name?” which was written by Chiarella (2001). It will define what nursing is, and the role of a professional nurse. The difference between the nurse and carer will be discussed and with an overview of nursing as a profession.

What is a nursing?

According to Ellis & Hartley (2001), defining nursing can be difficult and nurses cannot agree on a single definition. Much of it is due to the history of nursing as there is little known about the work of the nurse in pre-history. Diers (2001) also agrees that the word nursing is derived from the word nurse. So, according to Ellis & Hartley (2001), a nurse is someone who nourishes, fosters, and protects a sick, injured, and aged. Indeed, a nurse is “a person, especially a woman who takes care of the sick or infirm…” (Diers, 2001 p.5). But is a mother who gives care to a sick child a nurse?

Public attitude has very mixed view about nursing and what nurses do. According to Chiarella (2001), many lay people and doctors have stereotyped images of what nurse are and do. To address this concern, Chiarella (2001) suggested that it would be better for us to define nursing through research. Hopefully, there will be fewer misconceptions from the public on the role of nurses.

Nursing as a profession

Nursing has for many years struggled with an inner hunger, a deep need for professional congruency and effectiveness (Thupayagale & Dithole, 2005). So, is nursing a profession?  Accordingly to Kozier, Erb & Blais (1997), Pavalko’s eight criteria of a profession shows to determine whether an occupation is a profession. They include theory, relevancy to social values, training period, motivation, autonomy, commitment, senses of community and code of ethics. However, some of the characteristics are not highly developed in nursing as they are in other profession. Kelly & Joel (1999) had commented nursing theory’s base was still developing, that the public did not always see the nurses as a professional.

It is perceived that not all nurses are educated in institutions of higher learning, not all nurses consider nursing a lifetime career and that in many practice settings, and nursing does not control its own policies and activities (Kelly & Joel, 1999). Lack of autonomy is considered as most serious weakness. On the contrary, the nursing profession is autonomous as the Nursing Board in each State has set up rules and guidelines that nurses are required to adhere to strictly.  

In Singapore, the Singapore Nursing Board requires its nurses to abide by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. It also stipulated the Standards of Practice for Nurses and Midwives (SNB, 1999). For nurses to re-register their license currency of practice is required, hence, nurses need to make sure that they are constantly upgrading themselves by attending talks, seminar or courses to achieve the required number of hours stipulated by the Singapore Nursing Board.

Role as a Professional Nurse

In the past, nurses were generally believed to join the industry due to their low level of education and are not a subcategory of medicine. The doctors had little idea about what nursing entailed. Nurses were believed to follow the orders delegated (Chiarella, 2001). It is also the general acceptance that much of nursing work is of a routine or domestic nature, and requires no special skill (Chiarella, 2001).

However, according to Koch (1999), today’s nurses have more liberty to explore and create job opportunities and should be encouraged to exercise their influence to develop and support new nursing roles. In Singapore, we more nursing courses are available to nurses to upgrade themselves. For example, there are advanced nurse practitioners who are graduates from local masters program, can prescribe and make diagnoses in the absence of doctors. However, people debated that medical diagnosis and prescribing are not the focus of nursing knowledge whether the additional roles will diminish the role of nursing as a nurse (Donnelly, 2003).

Lindberg, Hunter & Kruszewski (1998) mentioned that caring nurses assist persons to foster growth and independences and enhancement of their client’s abilities to manage their own health needs. However, Chiarella (2001) mentioned that the nursing role is being eroded and there are certain nursing care is being delivered by non-nurses. It is better to acknowledge that others also do it but with the instruction and support of professional nurses. Care given by non-nurses must be done with a “nursing mind. 

Conclusion

It is necessary for nurses to protect our name, we needed to be able to describe what we did (Chiarella, 2001). Nursing must continue to work to become completely professional. The better way to differentiate nursing profession and nursing behavior by non-nurse is by examining the intent behind the action.  

References 

Chiarella, M. (2001). What’s in a name? Australian Nursing Journal,8(6), 39. 

Diers, D. (2001). What is nursing? In J.. McCloskey, Dochterman & H. Grace (eds.). Current issues in nursing (6^th ed.). St Louis: Mosby. 

Donnelly, G. (2003). Clinical expertise in advanced practice nursing: a Canadian perspective. Nurse Education Today, 23, p168-173. 

Ellis, J. R. & Hartley, C. L. (2001). Nursing in today’s world: Challenges, issues, and trends (7^th ed.) Philadelphia: Lippincott. 

Kelly, L. Y., & Joel, L. A. (1999). Dimensions of professional nursing (8^th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill 

Koch, R. (1999). Contemporary nursing roles. In B. Cherry & S. Jacob (eds.). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends and management. St Louis: Mosby. 

Kozier, B., Erb, G. & Blais, K. (1997). Professional nursing practice: concepts and perspectives (3^rd ed.). California: Addison Wesley.  

Lindberg, T., Hunter, M., & Kruszewski, A. (1998). Introduction to nursing: concepts, issues and opportunities (3ed ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.  

Singapore Nursing Board (1999). Code of ethics and professional conduct. Standards of Practice for Nurses and Midwives.  Thupayagale, G., & Dithole, K. (2005). What is in a name: the case of nursing. Nursing Forum, 40(4), p141-144.