Comments on: Professionalism- Something to Think About http://nursesdirect.crtdirectblogs.com/2008/06/19/professionalism-something-to-think-about/ A Resource for Nurses Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:13:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Deanna http://nursesdirect.crtdirectblogs.com/2008/06/19/professionalism-something-to-think-about/#comment-158 Deanna Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:11:23 +0000 http://nursesdirect.crtdirectblogs.com/?p=48#comment-158 That sure is a lot to think about! I wonder if a person is seen in public harassing someone or yelling at them, if it would then come up against their license? The media, of course, would pounce on the info if the person was found to be a nurse (or probably any healthcare professional). That in turn could definitely affect the person's job security. But the thought of it affecting actual licensure gives pause to remember that we are members of a highly respected profession. That sure is a lot to think about! I wonder if a person is seen in public harassing someone or yelling at them, if it would then come up against their license? The media, of course, would pounce on the info if the person was found to be a nurse (or probably any healthcare professional). That in turn could definitely affect the person’s job security. But the thought of it affecting actual licensure gives pause to remember that we are members of a highly respected profession.

]]> By: Bernice http://nursesdirect.crtdirectblogs.com/2008/06/19/professionalism-something-to-think-about/#comment-62 Bernice Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:50:59 +0000 http://nursesdirect.crtdirectblogs.com/?p=48#comment-62 This is truly a fascinating topic. Nurses, (with exception to pharmacists} are the most regulated profession in the United States. (This is mostly due to to the fact that most nurses deal with and administer narcotics - just as pharmacists have access to and dispense narcotics.} Historically, going back to Charles Dickens' times - nurses have successfully struggled to enhance and make the profession (or vocation) honorable, prestigious, and truly "professional". The stigma of nurses being drunkards, prostitutes, and in general, of lower class was dramatically changed by The Sisters of Mercy and Florence Nightengale, and by the establishment of actual nursing schools, formal education, etc. The fear of having this stigma return - or having anything tarnish the image past nurses worked so hard to achieve seemingly will always exist. Therefore, the higher the level a nurse attains - LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner - the higher the standard. The Code of Ethics for Professional Nurses adopted by the American Nurses Association supposedly deifines ethical standards. obligations, and duties. But how many nurses have really read the Code of Ethics? or the Scope and Standards of Practice? or even their own states handbook of nursing provided by the Office of Professions/ Board of Regents? The only issue which seems to have recently been of increased concern is DWI's, drug related crimes, and child abuse - that is, in actually having disciplinary actions against your license such as fines, suspension, or revocation. Contingent upon which state you're licensed in, the Office of Professional Discipline/Board of Regents/ Dept. of Education reviews cases based on the merit/validity of the complaint - if it's a domestic problem and does not harm the public - there is no merit. But if you are charged with assault. lewdness, DWI, sellling /buying recreational drugs/abuse a human or animal - or are otherwise in the news media - a hearing will probably be in effect. While it is very true that anyone can make up anything about anyone - and that nurses are more vulnerable to "punitive" measures, the standards you set for yourself hopefully coincide with the basic standards set by any profession and whatever religion/belief system you chose to follow. This is truly a fascinating topic. Nurses, (with exception to pharmacists} are the most regulated profession in the United States. (This is mostly due to to the fact that
most nurses deal with and administer narcotics - just as pharmacists have access to and dispense narcotics.} Historically, going back to Charles Dickens’ times - nurses have
successfully struggled to enhance and make the profession (or vocation) honorable, prestigious, and truly “professional”. The stigma of nurses being drunkards, prostitutes,
and in general, of lower class was dramatically changed by The Sisters of Mercy and Florence Nightengale, and by the establishment of actual nursing schools, formal
education, etc. The fear of having this stigma return - or having anything tarnish the image past nurses worked so hard to achieve seemingly will always exist.
Therefore, the higher the level a nurse attains - LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner - the higher the standard. The Code of Ethics for Professional Nurses adopted by the
American Nurses Association supposedly deifines ethical standards. obligations, and duties. But how many nurses have really read the Code of Ethics? or the Scope
and Standards of Practice? or even their own states handbook of nursing provided by the Office of Professions/ Board of Regents? The only issue which seems to have
recently been of increased concern is DWI’s, drug related crimes, and child abuse - that is, in actually having disciplinary actions against your license such as fines,
suspension, or revocation. Contingent upon which state you’re licensed in, the Office of Professional Discipline/Board of Regents/ Dept. of Education reviews
cases based on the merit/validity of the complaint - if it’s a domestic problem and does not harm the public - there is no merit. But if you are charged with assault.
lewdness, DWI, sellling /buying recreational drugs/abuse a human or animal - or are otherwise in the news media - a hearing will probably be in effect. While it
is very true that anyone can make up anything about anyone - and that nurses are more vulnerable to “punitive” measures, the standards you set for yourself
hopefully coincide with the basic standards set by any profession and whatever religion/belief system you chose to follow.

]]> By: Karen http://nursesdirect.crtdirectblogs.com/2008/06/19/professionalism-something-to-think-about/#comment-60 Karen Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:54:05 +0000 http://nursesdirect.crtdirectblogs.com/?p=48#comment-60 I can guarantee to you, that you better act professional at all times. Because, if you don't, and it were to be reported to state board, then you would end up on 5-10 years supervised probation, and a black mark on your license forever. It can be anything from being too loud in a retsurant/bar, yelling at your landlord in public, or public/private problems with/during a divorce, that get out of hand, and a long list of other violations. If reported, you will be charged with unprofessional conduct, and possibly more. I can guarantee to you, that you better act professional at all times. Because, if you don’t, and it were to be reported to state board, then you would end up on 5-10 years supervised probation, and a black mark on your license forever.

It can be anything from being too loud in a retsurant/bar, yelling at your landlord in public, or public/private problems with/during a divorce, that get out of hand, and a long list of other violations. If reported, you will be charged with unprofessional conduct, and possibly more.

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