Introduction
The field of nursing has evolved significantly over the years from a vocation primarily for women with limited education into a respected profession with high academic standards. Despite this evolution, a key barrier that continues to hinder nursing’s achievement of full professional status is the perception that nursing is an auxiliary service to medicine rather than as a unique, independent profession.
Historical Development of Biased Attitudes Toward Nursing
This perception is historically rooted and stems from the traditional roles of women in society and the patriarchal medical model. Historically, nursing was seen as a natural extension of the female role of caring and nurturing and was often performed by women with limited education who were subservient to male doctors (Wyatt, 2019). Even as nursing evolved and became professionalized, with higher educational requirements and specialized knowledge and skills, this perception persisted. As a result, nursing is often viewed as secondary to medicine, with nurses seen as assistants to doctors rather than professionals in their own right.
This view is further reinforced by the structure and organization of the healthcare system, where doctors often hold leadership positions and make key decisions. Nurses are often left out of decision-making processes despite their unique knowledge and perspectives. This not only undermines the professional status of nursing but it also hampers the ability of nurses to advocate for their patients and influence healthcare policies and practices.
The Reasons Behind Calling Nursing an Independent Profession
Despite these challenges, nursing is indeed a profession. It meets all the criteria of a profession as defined by sociologists: it has a specialized body of knowledge that is acquired through extensive education and training; it has a code of ethics and standards of practice; and it has regulatory bodies that control entry into the profession and ensure adherence to professional standards.
Moreover, nursing has evolved to include advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists, who have advanced education and training and can perform many of the same functions as doctors. These roles not only affirm the professional status of nursing, but they also challenge the traditional hierarchy in healthcare and affirm the unique contributions of nurses to patient care.
Furthermore, research has shown that nurses play a critical role in patient outcomes. They not only provide direct patient care but also coordinate care, educate patients and families, advocate for patients, and ensure the safety and quality of care. While doctors are often perceived as the primary figures in healthcare, the role of nurses is not subordinate. Instead, their role complements that of doctors (Moore & Cunningham, 2019).
While doctors make diagnoses and develop treatment plans, nurses carry out these plans and provide continuous care. Their roles are distinct but equally crucial in ensuring positive patient outcomes. This collaboration and synergy between doctors and nurses are essential for the effective functioning of the healthcare system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the perception of nursing as a subordinate service to medicine remains a key barrier to nursing’s attainment of full professional status, nursing is indeed a profession. It has its own body of knowledge, professional standards, and regulatory bodies, and it plays a critical role in patient care. Therefore, efforts should be made to challenge and change the outdated perception of nursing, to recognize and value the unique contributions of nurses, and to empower nurses to participate in decision-making processes in healthcare. Only then can nursing fully achieve its professional status and potential?
References
Moore, T., & Cunningham, S. (2019). Nursing skills in professional and practice contexts. Routledge.
Wyatt, L. (2019). A history of nursing. Amberley Publishing Limited.