Running head: ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Attributes of the Professional Nurse

Christina Post
NURS 211
Professor Williams
02/07/2014

ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Attributes of the Professional Nurse

Professional nurses are not only required to have scholarly knowledge in the medical and
nursing fields, but they need to have personal attributes that contribute to the care they provide to
their patients. Many of these attributes are instilled in and positively growing in student nurses.
Among the many standards and codes the professional nurse needs to adhere to and uphold,
exhibiting positive attributes when providing patient care is just as imperative. Some of the
professional nurse attributes mentioned include communication, interpersonal skills and a
willingness to learn.
There is a profound amount of qualities and attributes that make a nurse professional. Not
only should a nurse be caring, empathetic and respectful, but some of the most important
attributes are good communication skills, interpersonal skills and a lifelong willingness to learn.
Communication skills are important because the nurse is the advocate for the patient and should
be able to effectively communicate the patient or familys needs and concerns to other members
of the health care team. The professional nurse should also have great interpersonal skills to be
able to work as part of a dynamic, integrated health care group. Without interpersonal skills, the
patient may not get the quality care he/she deserves because their needs may not be
communicated well to other doctors or practitioners. The professional nurse should also be
committed to lifelong learning. According to the ANA Standards of Practice, the registered nurse
should attain knowledge and competence that is current with nursing practices (Nursing Scope
Standards, 2014). With the ever-increasing changes in technology and the health care industry,
nurses play a vital role in the implementation and teaching of new information to patients and
other members of the health care team. Willingness to learn and incorporate new techniques,
medications, procedures and skills are an important aspect to nursing.

ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Another promising attribute among professional nurses is autonomy. According to the

Journal of Clinical Nursing, and a study performed of professional nurses in practice, the
meaning of autonomy is to be knowledgeable and confident, make independent choices and have
rational and reflective thought (Skar, 2010). Nurses who exhibit autonomy have sufficient
scholarly knowledge, confidence, experience and authority to make a positive difference in their
patients outcome. They should be responsible in their nursing actions by accepting or denying
job requirements, decisions, and duties based on their knowledge and experience. Being able to
make choices about the patients care also requires the nurse to respond ethically by being
accountable for their judgments and actions (Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive
Statements, 2014).
My personal view of the nursing profession is one of gratitude and respect. My
experiences with nurses include working with and being cared for by them. Not only are they
great professionals, they also make great friends. I know what kind of attributes a respectable,
competent, professional nurse should have. As a student nurse, I will not only learn clinical
knowledge, but I will hone in on my interpersonal and communication skills, as I feel these are
very important in the nursing field. Nursing is a commitment to the community and to the idea of
being a life-long student. To be able to adopt the attributes of a professional nurse as a current
nursing student, I will hold myself to a higher standard and think as a professional. By practicing
and positively changing my thought processes and the way that I perform, I will be able to build
upon my existing attributes.

ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE

References
Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. (2014, 1 February). Retrieved from
www.nursingworld.org:
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNur
ses/Code-of-Ethics.pdf
Nursing Scope Standards. (2014). Retrieved from zipdf.com: http://zipdf.com/view.php?
id=www.nursesbooks.org/ebooks/download/NursingScopeStandards.pdf&k=ana
%20scope%20and%20standards
Skar, R. (2010). The meaning of autonomy in nursing practice. Journal Of Clinical Nursing,
19(15/16), 2226-2234. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02804.x

ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Kapiolani Community College

Associate in Science Degree Nursing Program
NURS 211 Professionalism in Nursing I

Professional Nurse Paper Rubric

Prepare a 2-3 page paper; cover page and reference page do not count toward 2-3 pages.
Content
Introduction

Possible
Points
10

Points Comments
Earned

Describe at least three attributes that you

20
feel are important for building
professional identity in nursing
Identify the professional attributes
20
discussed in your selected article that
describe the role of a professional nurse.
Describe your personal view of the
10
nursing profession.
Describe your personal plan to adopt the
10
attributes of a professional nurse
Conclusion
10
Format
Spelling and Grammar
5
APA format
10
*References
5
Total Points
100
* Reference should include your article on professional attributes, ANA Standards of Practice,
ANA Code of Ethics and other appropriate references.
Assignment due Week 3 by 11:59 PM the day of class.