Ryan 1

Stephaine Ryan
NURS 324
Nursing a Profession vs Occupation
I believe that nursing is a profession. According to the definition in Merriam-Webster
Dictionary (2013) a profession is a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and
intensive academic preparation. Many nurses will say that they were called to help others and
as many of us know its a long, hard academic road we go to get our degrees.
In our textbook written by Ms. Kay Kittrell Chitty and Ms. Beth Perry Black they state
that there are many different criteria stated by different authors that need to be met before
nursing can be considered a profession. One set called the Bixler and Bixler Criteria, seven
different criteria to have to be met to be considered a profession. Some of those criteria are: a
higher level of education at colleges and universities and the ability to expand your knowledge
in that profession (p. 65-66). Nurses have to complete a diploma, associate or baccalaureate
degree and have to complete a set amount of continuing education credits to keep their license
to practice nursing. Kellys Criteria is a set of criteria that has eight different measures to meet
before being able to be considered a profession. Some of those criteria are an association to set
a standard of practice, able to abide by a code of ethics for that profession, have some
autonomy as well as accountability in their work (p.66). Many nurses practice accountability
and autonomy on a daily basis while caring for their patients. The American Nurses Association
is a source of information for nurses that set a standard of evidence based practice to use while
working. These three things meet the Kellys Criteria to be called a profession.
To me the nursing that I practice is a profession. I have always wanted to help people. I
know that I have went to institutions of higher learning to obtain the knowledge base I have to
help me care for the patients that have entrusted me to help them heal. This knowledge is
evidence based so that the patients that I care for have the care that has been proven to help
them heal most efficiently and keep them from further harm. Being a nurse I am also able to
practice autonomy when deciding whether or not to give a medication that would adversely
affect the patients condition (i.e. not increasing a Pitocin drip if the electronic fetal monitor
tracing is non-favorable, walking a patient to help labor progress, etc.). These meet the
different criteria for my style of nursing to be considered a profession.



Ryan 2


Bibliography
Chitty, K.K., & Black, B.P. (2011). Professional Nursing Concepts & Challenges. Maryland
Heights: Missouri Saunders Elsevier
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2013). Retrieved on January 15, 2013 from
http:// www.merriam-webster.com