Introduction
Professionalism can be understood as the concept that demands special knowledge, as well as an elaborate academic experience in carrying out certain duties. In nursing, professionalism may entail the ability to have considerable skills in caring, diagnosing, treating, counselling, and imparting health education to individuals who require medical assistance.
The nursing profession has core values that include standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct. These values are geared towards protecting the community and patients (Hoffart & Woods, 1996). This paper shall examine the professional values of nursing that protect the community and patients with psychosocial disorders.
Professionalism and professional values of nursing
Professionalism calls for adherence to the professional responsibility as demanded by a certain field of practice. In nursing, professional responsibility borders on two aspects. These include the need to observe the professional standards that have been established and the need to act with a legally acceptable way while serving the patients.
Nursing professionalism is anchored on professional values, as well as behaviours that must be followed. There are various nursing core values, which include observation of social justice, being caring, observing ethical behaviour, and being respectful of self and others. Other core values in nursing include observing human dignity, treating all patients without bias, and prevention and alleviation of pain and suffering (Hoffart & Woods, 1996).
As a profession, nursing entails the observation of moral standards, ethics, as well as carrying out duties within a legal framework. All this is aimed at protecting the community and patients and ensuring their well-being. Nursing has been described as “a profession of civic responsibility that is entrusted with the confidence of a community” (Day, 2005, p. 434). In this respect, it can be noted that the nursing profession is meant to boost the welfare of the community. Therefore, all practising nurses should strive towards ensuring that the general well-being of the patients and the community at large is guarded.
Patients with psychosocial disorders come with great challenges to the nurses. There are ethical issues that come with taking care of patients with psychosocial disorders. Psychiatric patients have the right to reject medicine within the extent as provided for by the legal framework. This has been enshrined in the Patients’ Bill of Rights of 1992.
In addition, the healthcare providers are required by law to administer their services to patients without restricting the freedoms of the patient. The aspect of restriction in offering therapy to psychiatric patients is often based on how serious is the case. In some instances, the patient may be offered outpatient services or voluntary hospitalisation. However, the healthcare providers are faced with a great challenge when there is a need to administer the involuntary hospitalisation or other forms of therapy that come with restriction of the patient’s freedoms (Townsend, 2000).
Nursing profession has its standards meant to ensure that patients are served in the best way possible. Nurses are motivated by the need to provide safe and effective care to patients. In this respect, it has to be appreciated that caring for patients with psychosocial disorders demands a comprehensive approach that involves various disciplines and collaboration. In this respect, it can be asserted that nursing is critical in the promotion of mental health among individuals across the world (Blais, 2006).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be observed that nursing professions face numerous challenges while handling individuals with psychosocial disorders. In this respect, the health care professionals are required to provide their services to the patients within the legal and ethical standards that have been established. It should be noted that nurses’ core objective is to ensure that patients are not subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering.
Reference List
Blais, K. (2006). Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Day, L. (2005). Nursing Practice and Civic Professionalism. American Journal of Critical Care, 14(5): 434-437.
Hoffart, N. & Woods, C. Q. (1996). Elements of a nursing professional practice model. Journal of Professional Nursing, 23(7): 73-77.
Townsend, M.C. (2000). Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care. London: F a Davis Co.