Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Chapter 9 Image of Nursing: Influences of the Present

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

Image of Nursing: What Do We Mean? Nursing has been evolving for 150 years Affected by media Women’s issues and changing roles More technological and science driven Nurses are decision makers More male nurses and a push for minorities Nursing associations promote a more positive image of nursing Restructuring of health care environments

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Is Nursing a Profession? A profession has relevance to social values A profession has a training or educational period Self-motivation addresses the way you serve the patient and family A profession has a code of ethics A professional has a commitment to lifelong work Members control their profession A profession has a theoretical framework Members have a common identity

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Nursing Organizations What Should I Know About This? Belonging to a professional organization is empowering Memberships have followed an up-and-down trend Specialty organizations are popular Affiliation with an organization allows you to network and become more involved

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved What Organizations Are Available? ANA American Nurses Foundation International Council of Nurses National League for Nursing National Student Nurses Association National Organization for AND American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Board of Nursing Specialties American Red Cross

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved What Is Credentialing? A written document stating an individual’s qualifications Can signify a person’s performance Indicates academic achievement Your nursing license is a legal credential

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved What Are Registration and Licensure? Licensure requires a minimum competency by examination It is maintained by a state board of nursing Foreign students are required to pass the NCLEX-RN ®

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

What Is Certification? The nursing license is recognized as indicating minimum competency, whereas the certification credential indicates preparation beyond the minimum level An August 2000 press release by the ANCC of the largest study ever conducted in the United States and Canada with credentialed nurses indicated that nurses who have professional certification made fewer health care errors (ANCC, 2003)

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Certification: Generalist or Specialist? A generalist is an RN who may practice in a general or special area of nursing A specialist nurse needs to have an advanced degree beyond baccalaureate and to practice in a special area of nursing

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved What Is Accreditation? Accreditation is a peer review and voluntary process The NLNAC is the only organization that accredits all levels of nursing program education from the practical nurse to the graduate nurse

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Nursing Journals and Literature Available The American Journal of Nursing was first published in 1900 by the ANA and is still in publication today Nursing “Year” and RN are two other widely read nursing journals Nursing journals continue to be a major link between nursing organizations and professionals

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved Contemporary Issues Major shifts in the health care setting mandate that modern-day nurses embrace flexibility and adaptability in their professional behaviors Opportunities have never been better for the recent graduate as your career launches you into the future

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved What’s Going On in the Job Market? Currently the demand for health care and the demand for registered nurses will increase at the same time as the supply of RNs in the workforce will be declining The acute-care setting remains the major job placement area for recent graduates Although there is a definite shortage, health care institutions continue to expect new graduates to have a current knowledge base with critical-thinking abilities

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved What about Advanced- Practice Nursing? 7.3% of today’s registered nurses have advanced-practice credentials Nurse practitioner programs have become integral parts of master’s and even post- master’s programs All types of advanced-practice nurse (APN) roles are responding to the changes in the health care arena