Introduction
The nurses form the backbone of the healthcare setting that make sure that high-quality care service is delivered to the care service users. The nursing discipline evolved with the traditional roles of females in the society. The profession is influenced by humanitarian objectives, theories and research process, medicine and technology. These care professionals came into existence to provide ample care to the vulnerable people who are in need of healthcare services. The fundamental roles and responsibilities of the nursing professionals have evolved over the past years but they primarily exist to empower the care users and make sure that they get the treatment that they deserve to lead a healthy life. In order to be an effective and valuable nurse, the individual needs to possess the requisite skills, knowledge to offer something to the service users (Scert.kerala.gov.in, 2018, p 1).
Question –
The core elements that have been covered in the essay include the evolution of the nursing profession, the policy and regulations in the professional context, the occupational closure strategies, the change in the society due to the existence of these nursing professionals, and the success elements of the profession.
Evolution of the nursing profession
The history of the nursing profession is very interesting. Since the very inception of the profession, it has been connected with the social issues that exist in the social setting. Prior to 1950s, the views on the nursing profession were narrow but post the 1950s and 1960s the scholarship of the nursing profession began to expand. In the year 1970, the “Hospitals, Paternalism and the Role of the Nurse” was published which highlighted various social challenges to be an aspect of the nursing profession. Today the nursing profession has become an indispensable element of the healthcare industry and it is almost impossible to think how the industry will be able to exist without the sincere dedication and efforts of the nurses (Social Work Degree Guide, 2018).
In the current times, the nursing professionals continue to function in the care setting and offer their valuable service to thousands of people all around the globe so that their health condition and overall well-being can be strengthened. In order to function in the care context, they need to regularly brush up their skills and expertise so that they can upgrade their skills and create value for the users. Some of the renowned nurses who have made a major contribution in the past are Dorothea Dix, Linda Richards, Clara Barton and Lillian Wald. With the changing time, the laws and policies relating to the nursing profession have changed but the essence remains the same i.e. to improve the health and well-being of the public (Social Work Degree Guide, 2018).
Critical analysis of the policy and legislation relating to the nursing profession
Since the inception of the nursing profession, numerous changes have taken place in terms of the policies and legislation. Some of the crucial legislation that has been introduced in the nursing professional setting are the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Continuing Care Act, Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, Medicare Protection Act, Mental Health Act and Human Rights Code Act (Scie.org.uk, 2018, p 2). Some of the most effective policies that have been introduced to strengthen the activities that the nurses perform in the healthcare context to strengthen their contribution and enhance the health outcome of the service users. While serving in the care facilities, the nurses need to adopt an ethical and professional approach so that the basic care needs of the users can be met in the process. The policies encourage the professionals to adopt best practices in order to manage risk and treat the care users with dignity and respect. Such policies and legislation guide the nursing professionals to deliver quality service to the care users who are in need of care and assistance (Scie.org.uk, 2018, p 2).
These intangible elements act as the framework that guides the nursing professionals to focus on the vulnerable members of the public and their health needs.
Changes in the society due to the emergence of the nursing professionals
The emergence of the nursing profession has motivated the government and the other health-related bodies to take give priority to the public health. Together they are working since the past years to bridge the gap that exists in the communities due to unequal distribution of health facilities (Hardy, 2018). Due to the functions of the nursing professionals, people in different parts of the globe are able to overcome their health-related challenging and issues. The contribution that these nursing professionals have made over the last years can be felt in different parts of the globe (Flexner, 2001).
The contribution of the nurses can be felt by observing the health condition of the people at the community level. The well-educated and well-trained nurses have empowered themselves by strengthening their skills. Their experience along with their expertise helps them to take complex clinical decisions that improve the well-being of the people. Over the years, the care needs of the population have undergone dramatic change and the nursing professionals have adapted to the changing setting so that they can empower the patients and the vulnerable patients will be in a position to voice their health-related necessities.
According to the research study by Derek Jehu, the care professionals such as nurses and physicians who implement the behavioral model to treat the patients that suffer from abnormal behavior are able to assess the exact issue that lies with the individual (Jehu, 1970). The creation of the natural environment helps the nurses to use the most suitable treatment techniques that help the patients to deal with their condition. This is one of the instances that show how the nurses have created value in the society (Jehu, 1970).
Success and downfall of the nursing profession
The nursing profession has seen its share of success and downfall since its very inception but it has succeeded to make a unique mark in the global setting. The interpersonal collaboration and proper definition of the professional identity has helped the nursing professionals to understand the exact role that they need to work upon in order to deliver care service to the public. The success of the nursing professional group is evident in the improved health conditions of the people and the better accessibility of healthcare facilities. For example, Clara Barton was a popular nurse who played a big role during the “American Civil War”. She travelled to various locations with the army ambulances to offer supplies, nurse the victims of the war and give them psychological comfort.
In spite of the success of the professionals, many challenges arise before the nursing professionals and make their work ineffective such as the lack of clarity of the role of the nursing professionals, poor skills and expertise, the cultural and personal differences and the conflict in terms of values and ethical aspects (Socialserviceworkforce.org, 2018, p 4).
Conclusion
Over the years, the nursing professionals have become an indispensable set of professionals that try to bridge the gap between different members of the community in terms of health and well-being. Their sincere and dedicated efforts have forced various national governments to notice their work for the vulnerable people in the community. The policies and legislation that have been designed act as the backbone of the nursing profession. These elements make sure that robust and fair healthcare setting is created that serves the public. Due to the existence of these nursing professionals, the lives of many people have changed for the better. The noble actions of these professionals are a necessity in the current era when there is a high level of health-related issues.
Recommendations
In order to strengthen the effectiveness of the nursing professionals, it is highly important for the professionals to adopt an ethical and professional approach. Such an approach will help them to not only address the health needs of the public but to derive positive health outcome (Loue, 2013).
In the digital era, the nurses can upgrade the quality of care work and service that is delivered to the public by using innovative means during treatment and diagnosis. The nurses can improve their digital skills so that they can completely participate in the care context to deliver quality care service (Loue, 2013).
References
Flexner, A., 2001. Is social work a profession? Research on social work practice, 11(2), pp.152-165.
Jehu, D., 1970. The role of social workers in behavior therapy. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1(1), pp.17-28.
Loue, S., 2013. Social work, advocacy, and ethics: Opportunities and challenges in Romania. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 92, pp.1039-1043.
Social Work Degree Guide. 2018. What is the History of the Social Work Profession? – Social Work Degree Guide. [Online] Available at: https://www.socialworkdegreeguide.com/faq/what-is-the-history-of-the-social-work-profession/ [Accessed 2 Aug. 2018].
