Course: Fundamentals of Nursing�Topic: Role of the Professional Nurse Population

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Contact info: info@nursesinternational.org

© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

Student Learning Outcomes

Learners will be able to:

• Define the term “Nurse”

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• Identify nursing as a profession

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• List the roles of the professional nurse

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• Explain what it means to have an identity as a nurse

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• Describe the function of nursing associations

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What is your definition of a ‘Nurse’?

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Definition of ‘Nurse’

‘The unique function of nurses in caring for individuals, sick or well, is to assess their responses to their health status and to assist them in the performance of those activities contributing to health or recovery or to dignified death that they would perform unaided if they had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge and to do this in such a way as to help them gain full or partial independence as rapidly as possible (Henderson, 1977, p.4).’

International Council of Nurses[ICN], n.d.

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Definition of the term ‘Nurse’

• International Council of Nurses (n.d.a) defined nurse in 1987, ‘Nurse is a person who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing education and is authorized by the appropriate regulatory authority to practice nursing in his/her country.’

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• The nurse is a term that refers to graduates of a specific program of study that prepares them to practice at different levels of responsibility

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• (ie. Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist)

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• About 59% of the total health professionals in 172 countries. (State of the world's nursing…, 2020)

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Critical Thinking Question: True or False?

1. Nurses act as doctors assistants
2. Nurses are permitted to practice only under the authority of a regulatory agency.
3. Nurses are autonomous practitioners that must think critically
4. All nurses practice at the same level of responsibility

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Profession

Occupation

• College or University
• Prolonged education
• Mental creativity
• Decisions based on science or theory
• Strong commitment
• Values, beliefs & ethics essential part of preparation
• Autonomous
• Individual accountability
• Is represented by a professional Association
• Has its own body knowledge

Cherie et al., 2005

• On the job training
• Length of training varies
• Largely manual work
• Guided decision making
• Commitments may vary
• Values, beliefs & ethics are not part of preparation
• Supervised
• Employer is primarily accountable

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Nurse as a Professional

• Requires specialized academic knowledge and skills

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• Regulated by recognized authority of a professional organization

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• Governed by code of ethics and standards of practice.

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• Responsibility and accountability to one’s own practice

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• Opportunity for continuous professional growth and economic security

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• Strong commitment and dedication required

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Nurse as a Professional

For the last 18 years, the public rated nurses highest in ethics and honesty compared to other professions including medical doctors, pharmacists, engineers, dentists, police officers, lawyers etc. in America.

Reinhart, 2020

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Critical Thinking Question

Why is maintaining trust with the general public important for nursing practice?

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Role of Professional Nurse

• Health Care Provider
• Team Coordinator
• Educator
• Client Advocate
• Change Agent
• Leader
• Manager
• Researcher

Cherie et al., 2005

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Role of the Professional Nurse:

Healthcare Provider

• Identify client health problems and needs
• Vigilant about physical, mental, and cultural health care needs of the clients.

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• Provide preventive, curative, and palliative care to the client
• Administer prescribed medications safely
• Provide hygiene care as required.
• Provide emotional support and comfort to the client.

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Role of the Professional Nurse:

Team Coordinator

• An indispensable member of multidisciplinary team

Apart from the client, nurse, physician/doctor a multidisciplinary team may also include physiotherapist, psychologist, dietician, lab technician, social worker, etc.

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• Co-ordinates the client care through accurate and efficient communications between the client care team members

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The Nurse is the glue that holds the multidisciplinary team together!

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Role of the Professional Nurse:

Educator/Counsellor

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• Nurses provide client education/counselling to:
• Prevent medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, communicable diseases, etc
• Decrease risk of complications
• Empower clients to be independent/self-sufficient

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• Nurse’s educate Client’s through their entire health journey, from admission to discharge and beyond.

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Arkansas State University website, 2018

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Role of the Professional Nurse:

Client Advocate

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• The nurse support clients and act in their best interest

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• The nurse act as client advocate by:
• Protecting client’s right
• Helping client make informed decisions
• Ensuring client safety
• Identifying gaps in client care
• Helping clients identify resources that support their well-being

Nitzky, 2018

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Role of the Professional Nurse: Manager

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• The nurse manages:
• Client care activities at bedside
• Nursing staff and their practices in a specific unit as unit managers
• Health care delivery system as Nurse Administrators/Hospital administrators
• Nursing profession through participation in nursing council/associations

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Role of the Professional Nurse: Researcher

• Client care practices must be evidence based which entails continuous research

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• The nurse as a frontline health care provider, has an important part to play in research that is designed to improve client care

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• Research Nurse
• Identifies research questions
• Samples client populations
• Synthesises research findings

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Role of the Professional Nurse: Change Agent

• Change agents at Bedside
• Update and normalizes evolving evidence based practices
• Improves health care delivery at rural areas through evidence based practices
• Role models good practice to influence practices of student nurses

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• Change agents at organizational level as managers/administrators
• Makes guidelines/policies that enable nurses to provide best client care
• Create working environment that foster best client care practices
• Role model ethical and practice standards to influence nurses

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Role of Professional Nurse: Change Agent

• Change agents at government level researchers/advocators/policy makers
• Nurse researchers identify best health care practices and disseminate/advocate the findings
• Nurse administrators/leaders/advocators/policy makers exchange dialogue with the public and politicians and other stakeholders to promote safe health care delivery system and practices

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Role of the Professional Nurse: Leader

• Role of a leader is inherent in the professional nurse
• Every nurse is a leader in their own right and in their areas of nursing practice
• Nurses are required to have leadership skills in order to safeguard individual, family, and community health

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The nurse needs to be a leader to become change agent!

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Critical Thinking Question

Identify Nursing Roles outside of Bedside Nursing

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Role of the Nurses Association

• United voice for nurses in political area on local, state and national level.
• Developing and disseminating foundation documents pertaining to nursing practice.
• Lobbying for legislation and regulations that protect and serve users of nursing services.
• Advocating for issues that promote nurse's ability to deliver safe care.
• Support nurses in continued professional development through continuing education, certification opportunities, role-related competencies and educational conferences.

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Role of the Nurse Associations: ANA

American Nurses Associations (ANA) advances nursing profession by

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• Fostering high standards of nursing practice

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• Promoting a safe and ethical work environment;

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• Bolstering the health and wellness of nurses; and

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• Advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public

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(American Nurses Association, n.d.)

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© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

Role of Nurse Associations: ANMF

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) works with its members to

• Improve its members ability to deliver safe and best practice care across different settings

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• Fulfil its members professional goals and achieve healthy work/life balance

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• Defend and advance its professions

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• Strengthen the contribution of nursing and midwifery to improving health of national and global communities

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ANMF, n.d.

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© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

Role of Nurse Associations: RCN

Royal College of Nursing (RCN)

• Represent the professional interests of nursing staff working in public, private, and voluntary sectors.
• Negotiates pay, terms and condition for its members as well as provides free, confidential advice and support on employment matters, career development, immigration, welfare and more.
• Lobby governments and other bodies across the UK to develop, influence, and implement policy that improves the quality of client care.
• Promote and engage in nursing research

RCN, n.d.

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Critical Thinking Question

Identify the Nursing Association in your country/state and define their key roles.

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© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

References

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2019, April 1). Nursing fact sheet. https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Fact-Sheet

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• American Nurses Association. (n.d.). About ANA. Retrieved on September 24, 2021 from https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/

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• Arkansas State University website, (2018, March 22). The Nurse’s Role in Patient Education. https://degree.astate.edu/articles/nursing/nurses-role-patient-education.aspx

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• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. (n.d.). About us.. Retrieved on September 24, 2021 from https://www.anhttps://www.nursingassoc.org.np/pages/objectives-strategiesmf.org.au/pages/about-the-anmf

Contact info: info@nursesinternational.org

© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

References

• Cherie, A., Mekonen, A.H., & Shimselse, T. (2005). Lecture notes for nursing students : Introduction to professional nursing and ethics. Addis Ababa University. https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/health/ephti/library/lecture_notes/nursing_students/LN_Intro_Prof_Nsg_final.pdf

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• International Council of Nursing. (n.d.a) Nursing Definitions. Retrieved on September 24, 2021 from https://www.icn.ch/nursing-policy/nursing-definitions

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• Nitzky, A. (2018, August 30). Six Ways Nurses Can Advocate, For Patient. Oncology Nursing News. https://www.oncnursingnews.com/contributor/alene-nitzky/2018/08/six-ways-nurses-can-advocate-for-patients

Contact info: info@nursesinternational.org

© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

References

• Reinhart, R.J. (2020, January 6). Nurses Continue to Rate Highest in Honesty, Ethics. GALLUP. https://news.gallup.com/poll/274673/nurses-continue-rate-highest-honesty-ethics.aspx

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• Royal College of Nursing. (n.d.). What the RCN does. Retrieved from September 24, 2021 from https://www.rcn.org.uk/about-us/what-the-rcn-does

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• State of the world's nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership [PDF]. (2020) World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1274201/retrieve

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© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

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© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.

Contact info: info@nursesinternational.org

© 2013-2026 Nurses International (NI) and the Academic Network. All rights reserved.