Professional Commitment2 Professional commitment refers to the deliberate effort by a trained personnel in a certain field to discharge their duties. In my career as a nurse, I perceive professional commitment as a decision by a nurse to provide quality care to their patient. Care to the patient is in terms of social, physical and emotional support. Patient are vulnerable individuals who will visit the nurse to seek care in order to restore their health or get assistance on managing their conditions. The license to practice allows a nurse to discharge their duties within the scope of their practice. Commitment to the profession’s dictates can be observed. Professional commitment is a belief in professional goals and values (Chang,Shyu, Wong, Friesner, Chu & Teng, 2015). It incorporates the expectations that come forth with one’s qualification. Care and respect for human life are the guiding principles in nursing profession. Taylor (2016) was for the opinion that advocacy initiatives would encourage nurses to communicate their ideas to policymakers for consideration to improve practice. Due to the change of the health care environment, a new generation of dynamic nurses have become lobbyists who have recognized the need to be heard by the government. The role of the lobbyists is protecting the interest of nurses, advocate for patients’ interest, promote a nursing agenda and also understand how legislation affects the organizational operations. Lobbying gives the ordinary person a voice in the government and it is a way to allow people to be politically active. The disadvantage of lobbying is that it can only be effective for a particular group and requires experience to be effective. Hence nurses as lobbyists are important.
Professional Commitment3 REFERENCES Chang, H. Y., Shyu, Y. I. L., Wong, M. K., Friesner, D., Chu, T. L., & Teng, C. I. (2015). Which aspectsofprofessionalcommitmentcaneffectivelyretainnursesinthenursing profession?Journal of Nursing Scholarship,47(5), 468-476. MRS Taylor-Journal of Professional Nursing, 2016 –Elsevier