Professionalism
March
2002
The word is spoken many times during our lifetime but what does
it mean? The dictionary
defines a profession as "an occupation that properly involves
a liberal, scientific, or artistic education or its equivalent and
usually mental rather than manual labor; especially one of the three
learned professions, law, medicine or theology." Yet, this definition does not embody the more extensive
interpretation of the word. It does not include the distinction that
we make in our minds separating the professional from the
unprofessional in expertise, behavior, character and work ethics. As
we have heard in the struggle for definitions of other words or
concepts, my thoughts are that we "may not be able to define
professionalism but we know it when we see it".
It is to this that I speak now. What kind of a professional
nurse would we choose to care for us or our families and friends? If
given the opportunity, would we choose ourselves? If not, why not? Do
we give our patients the same quality of care that we would give our
families and friends? Do we give our institutions in which we work the
same dedication that qualifies our work ethics, expertise and
commitment to be termed as "professional"?
Professionalism is an attitude of excellence. This is typically
achieved by the initial education in the field (nursing in our case), persistent
practice on a regular basis, continued ongoing education to maintain
current practice standards, intellectual stimulation prompting us to
ask "why?" and to improve our skill levels, attention to
detail and quality of work, collaboration with colleagues and a host
of other features that are too numerous to mention.
Maryland State ENA has over 500 members. We affiliate with our
National organization in our framework and philosophies. Emergency
Nurses Association provides emergency nurses with the tools to be the
consummate professional. The educational offerings and materials,
conferences and meetings, resources and references, etc. are the
products of many people's diligent work to maintain emergency nursing
as a specialty organization to assist us. Despite all of this, few of
us in Maryland avail ourselves of the opportunities of the membership.
So the next time you view the website, peruse the Journal of
Emergency Nursing, attend a conference, ask yourself, "Am I the
professional I want to be?" If the answer is no, take advantage
of your Emergency Nurses Association and all it has to offer. The
networking, knowledge enhancement, skills practice, etc., will astound
you. It is the visible
result of efforts of those nurses who strive for perfection so that
all of us can have opportunities to become and/or remain professional.
Pamela S. Fox, RN, BSN, CEN
President Maryland State Emergency Nurses
Association