Professionalism in Nursing: Essential Characteristics and Behaviors

This essay delves into the multifaceted concept of professionalism in nursing, highlighting the critical qualities and behaviors that define a successful healthcare professional. It emphasizes the importance of excellent communication skills, enabling nurses to effectively convey information, advocate for patients, and build trust. The essay also explores the significance of empathy, caring, and attention to detail in providing patient-centered care. Furthermore, it outlines the professional behaviors expected of nurses, including competence, stress management, and a commitment to continuous learning and development to adapt to the rapidly evolving medical field. The paper draws on various research sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive overview of the key elements of professionalism in nursing.

Professionalism in nursing 1
Professionalism in Nursing
Institution
Course
Date

Professionalism in nursing 2
Professionalism in Nursing
Professionalism in nursing consists of variety of qualities and behaviours which demonstrate
commitment to effective performance in the medical field. The conducts and attitudes of nurses
when exercising their duties is very critical in ensuring success, a strong reputation, as well as
high level of work ethic. According to Karimi, Ashktorab, Mohammadi, and Abedi, (2014),
professionalism in nursing consists of a set of values which are essential in elevating the quality
of patient care while enhancing the standards, methods and judgments that guide the nursing
practice. Working in a professional environment can help nurses develop valuable skills so as to
create further opportunities for strengthening the professional values. Professionalism in nursing
should reflect the acts of providing quality care while striving for professional and personal
development. This paper explores some of the characteristics that a professional nurse should
exhibit. It further highlights the professional behaviors that are appropriate for the nursing role.
Characteristics of a Professional Nurse
One characteristic that a professional nurse should exhibit is excellent communication skills.
Good communication skills play a critical role in the entire healthcare experience of a patient.
For a nurse to successfully provide individualized care to patients, excellent relay of information
must be involved. Nurses must be able to understand the unique challenges and concerns of
different patients and be ready to advocate on their behalf (Jeffreys 2015). For a nurse to be able
to advocate for their patients and address their issues, they must be able to effectively
communicate. Also, for patients to trust nurses and disclose vital information that that can help in
the management of the patients’ care, nurses must provide undivided attention and make the

Professionalism in nursing 3
patients feel safe and confident. With effective verbal and nonverbal communication comes
improved morale and job satisfaction among the nurses.
Another characteristic that should be exhibited by a professional nurse is empathy. The ability to
really hear and share the feelings of the patient can make the patient comfortable and feel
understood without judgement. When a nurse expresses empathy towards a patient, patient trust
is easily built hence improved health outcomes (Richardson, Percy, and Hughes 2015). A good
nurse should be able to recognize that every patient has a set of values, life experiences and
perspectives.
Caring is another characteristic that a professional nurse should posses. It is hard to effectively
care for a patient if it is a characteristic not exhibited. It is important for nurses to be caring
because they take care of patients even in the most vulnerable times. Nurses also act as a point of
contact between patients and families and for this to be efficiently enabled, nurses must be
caring. Nurses should be able to complete their tasks effectively while being compassionate,
concerned and sympathetic towards the patients.
Attention to detail is also a characteristic that nurses should exhibit. A good nurse should ensure
that instructions and procedures are followed to the later even in a hectic work environment. The
nursing profession has several challenges and therefore nurses need to be detail-oriented so as to
minimize the risk of errors (Kowalski 2016. Moreover, attention to detail is essential in
identifying and solving problems as they arise.
Nurses should exhibit respect at all times. Making decisions while at practice can sometimes be a
delicate balancing act. It is thus essential for a good nurse to respect healthy working boundaries
and all the diverse people they are serving and working with. This characteristic is demonstrated

Professionalism in nursing 4
through professional demeanor, mindfulness for rules and privacy as well as a high regard for
every patient’s wishes. It is hard to be a successful professional nurse without respect.
Professional behaviors appropriate for nursing role
Competence is a professional behavior which is necessary for the nursing role. Nurses are
expected to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to solve problems and make decisions
within the public health context. To fit the nursing role, nurses are required to learn how to share
responsibility, and individually be responsible and accountable for their own actions. This
behavior also ensures the protection of the public and advances the profession through
professional growth and development (Sortedahl, Persinger, Sobtzak, Farrell and Jaeger 2017).
Being able to effectively manage pressure is a behavior which is necessary for the nursing role.
Stress management behavior helps nurses to be able to cope with pressure that accompanies the
role. Stress can lead to burnout and overwhelming if not managed. Therefore, this behavior is
appropriate so as to be physically and mentally healthy hence effective execution of nursing
roles.
The desire to keep learning is another appropriate behavior that a professional nurse should
posses. The medical field requires the use of evidence-based practiced in care and this can only
be possible with continuous research. The desire to keep learning provides recent knowledge and
skills to help nurses execute their roles (Sortedahl et al. 2017). The medical field is rapidly
changing; therefore a learner behavior is essential in keeping up with latest trends and
technologies in the medical field.

Professionalism in nursing 5
List of references
Karimi, Z., Ashktorab, T., Mohammadi, E. and Abedi, H.A., 2014. Using the hidden curriculum
to teach professionalism in nursing students. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 16(3).
Jeffreys, M.R., 2015. Teaching cultural competence in nursing and health care: Inquiry, action,
and innovation. Springer Publishing Company.
Chang, H.Y., Shyu, Y.I.L., Wong, M.K., Friesner, D., Chu, T.L. and Teng, C.I., 2015. Which
aspects of professional commitment can effectively retain nurses in the nursing
profession?. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(5), pp.468-476.
Richardson, C., Percy, M. and Hughes, J., 2015. Nursing therapeutics: Teaching student nurses
care, compassion and empathy. Nurse Education Today, 35(5), pp.e1-e5.
Sortedahl, C., Persinger, S., Sobtzak, K., Farrell, B. and Jaeger, N., 2017. Essential professional
behaviors of nursing students and new nurses: hospital nurse leader perspectives survey. Nursing
education perspectives, 38(6), pp.297-303.
Kowalski, K., 2016. Professional Behavior in Nursing. The Journal of Continuing Education in
Nursing, 47(4), pp.158-159.