Nursing

The claim of nursing to be a true profession has been elusive. There is little
hesitation around the fact that nursing in Australia has undergone many changes.
With the influences of its most famous founder- Florence Nightingale and others
such as Elizabeth Fry and the Sisters of Charity; modern nursing began to evolve. The
modern Nurse is a far cry from her former counterpart; however the past remains
influential on how she/he is recognised by the community and the health care
system as a whole.

It is by having an understanding of the history surrounding nursing and the struggle
to move nursing from a vocation/occupation, to that of a Profession, which can
pave the way forward for nurses to be recognised accordingly for the role they play
in the health care system. This essay will attempt to examine nursing’s humble
beginnings and their impact on current trends in modern nursing as well as
highlighting some of the complexities in the transition to be seen as a profession.

For the purpose of this essay, according to Parsons (1951), Goode (1960) and Etzioni
(1961), in Yam. Bernard MC (2004), Profession is said to “possess the following
traits * an extensive theoretical knowledge base * a legitimate expertise in a
specialised field * an altruistic commitment to service * an unusual degree of
autonomy in work * a code of ethics and conduct overseen by a body of
representatives from within the field itself and * a personal identity that stems from
the professionals occupation”; and

Vocation according to Yam. Bernard MC (2004), “an extension of the physical and
emotional work of wives and mothers, which demanded......... total dedication and
sacrifice”, or as Catalano .J   (2006) states “ a group of jobs that are similar in type of
work and that are usually found throughout an industry or work environment”

Nursing has undergone significant changes since its early beginnings over 200 years
ago. Caring for the ill was a task suitable for those of... [continues]

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