| Learning Objective #1: Discuss the usefulness of Hall’s Professionalism Inventory Scale for measuring professional attitudes in nurses | |||
| Learning Objective #2: List at least three factors currently associated with professionalism in nursing |
Design: A descriptive correlational design examined relationships among levels of nursing professionalism, educational degrees, experience, and advanced practice certification in registered nurses (RNs).
Population, Sample, Setting: Packets were mailed to a random sample of 1850 RNs from the Midwest; 774 questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 42%.
Concepts or Variables Studied Together: A Professionalism Inventory Scale was used to measure attitudinal attributes of professionalism and its five dimensions, use of professional organizations as major referent groups, belief in public service, autonomy, self-regulation, and a sense of calling. Sample demographic variables were also examined in relation to professionalism.
Methods: Questionnaire packets were mailed to subjects with postcard reminders sent to non-respondents. Pearson product moment correlational analysis was used with a .05 level of significance established for hypothesis-testing.
Findings: Significant relationships were revealed among professionalism, age of the nurses, years of nursing experience, membership in professional organizations, and certification. Use of professional organizations was significantly associated with years of experience as an RN, membership in organizations, service as an officer, certification, and a higher educational degree in nursing.
Conclusions: Today’s profession of nursing is evolving as a valuable public service with increasingly autonomous practice characterized by higher education, certification in advanced practice, supported by the power of professional organizations, and enhanced by scientific knowledge. Health care administrators need to understand the attitudinal attributes that foster professionalism in nurses and incorporate these into organizational cultures where nurses are employed.
Implications: This is a critical time to examine nursing professionalism because young people are listening to stories about poor working conditions, smaller salaries, and the lack of prestige and power in nursing as a respected profession. Positive views of nursing professionalism must overcome the negative if young people are to envision nursing as a viable career choice.
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