Paper
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The Value of Nursing in a Global Context
Verena T. Tschudin, RN, PhD, RM, DipCouns, International Centre for Nursing Ethics, Univesity of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TE, United Kingdom and Khim Horton, PhD, BSc(Hons), RN, RCNT, RNT, PGCEA, Centre for Research in Nursing and Midwifery Education, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7TE, United Kingdom.
Our presentation will outline the key findings of an integrative literature review to determine how the value of nursing has been defined in a global context and what factors influence this. A broad overview of the themes arising from interview transcripts involving nurses and physicians from ten countries will be included. Current difficulties in many industrialised countries in recruiting and retaining nurses was the basic motivation for the research. Maintaining high quality nursing is generated and formed by shifting perceptions of the relative social value or meaning of nursing, as well as certain values in nursing. By the ‘value of nursing’ the presenters mean the estimation of nursing as a social and/or work and/or professional role in the minds of various stakeholders such as nurses, healthcare managers, educationalists and politicians. There is an acute need to reflect on the value of nursing in relation to the profession across international boundaries as a prerequisite to sustainable strategies for a healthier nursing workforce around the globe. By ‘values in nursing’ the presenters mean the perception of nurses and other healthcare professionals of the values by which the ‘good nurse’ is distinguished from the ‘bad/poor nurse’, stressing competence, kindness, courage, independence of judgement etc. A critical stance is required to examine policies and practices to determine the values in nursing. Implications for further research and nursing will also be explored