Profession

• A specialized field of practice, which is founded upon the theoretical structure of the
science or knowledge of that discipline and the accompanying practice abilities.

Criteria of a profession
1. Utilizes in its practice a well-defined and well-organized body of specialized knowledge
that is on the intellectual level of higher learning.
2. Constantly enlarges the body of knowledge it uses and improves its techniques of
education and service by the use of the scientific method.
3. Entrusts the education of its practitioners to institutions of higher education
- university
4. Applies its body of knowledge in practical services that are vital to human and social
welfare.
-esteem, prestige, power, altruism, education
5. Functions autonomously in the formulation of professional policy and in the
control of professional activity thereby.
-self regulating, licensure, membership
6. Attracts individuals of intellectual and personal qualities who exalt service above
personal gain and who recognize their chosen occupation as a life work.
7. Strives to compensate its practitioners by providing freedom of action, opportunity for
continuous professional growth, and economic security.

2012 National Nursing Core Competency Standards

I. Beginning Nurse’s Role on Client Care

Responsibility 1:
Practices in accordance with legal principles and the code of ethics in making personal
and professional judgment.
Responsibility 2:
Utilizes the nursing process in the interdisciplinary care of clients that empowers the
clients and promotes safe quality care.
Responsibility 3:
Maintains complete and up to date recording and reporting system.
Responsibility 4:
Establishes collaborative relationship with colleagues and other members of the team to
enhance nursing and other health care services.
Responsibility 5:
Promotes professional and personal growth and development.

II. Beginning Nurse’s Role on Management and Leadership

Responsibility 1:
Demonstrates management and leadership skills to provide safe and quality care.
Responsibility 2:
Demonstrates accountability for safe nursing practice.
Responsibility 3:
Demonstrates management and leadership skills to deliver health programs and
services effectively to specific client groups in the community setting.
Responsibility 4:
Manages a community/ village based health facility/ component of a health program or a
nursing service.
Responsibility 5:
Demonstrates ability to lead and supervise nursing support staff.
Responsibility 6:
Utilizes appropriate mechanisms for networking, linkage building and referrals.

III. Beginning Nurse’s Role on Research

Responsibility 1:
Engages in nursing or health related research with or under the supervision of an
experienced researcher.
Responsibility 2:
Evaluates research study/ report utilizing guidelines in the conduct of a written research
critique.
Responsibility 3:
Applies the research process in improving client care in partnership with a quality
improvement/ quality assurance/ nursing audit team.

Personal Qualities of the Professional Nurse

Justice: the quality of being correct, righteous, fair and impartial
: Honesty, Loyalty, Tolerance
Prudence: the basis for the exercise of sound judgment in practical matters
: Judgment, Reliability
Fortitude: courage; the control of responses made to difficulties and dangers
: Motivation, Resourcefulness
Temperance: rational control of life’s essential functions and basic emotional drives
: Moderation

Thomasian Core Values

RESPECT - We treat everyone with utmost dignity in the light of Catholic faith.
EXCELLENCE - We uphold the culture of excellence and continuously commit to achieve
higher levels of quality.
LEADERSHIP - We empower students to become productive, efficient and be of service to
others.
INNOVATION - We encourage creative and critical thinking, new ideas and research.
COMPASSION - We are sensitive to the needs of others.
*SPIRITUALITY

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231): Patroness of Nurses

St. Elizabeth was born in Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II, King of
Hungary. At the age of four she was sent for education to the court of the Landgraves of
Thuringia (Germany), to whose infant son she was betrothed. As she grew in age, her piety also
increased by leaps and bounds.
In 1221, she married Ludwig IV of Thuringia and in spite of her position at court began to
lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity. Her
husband was himself much inclined to religion and highly esteemed her virtue, encouraging her
in her exemplary life.
She built a hospital at Wartburg, where she herself served the sick, bathing them,
feeding them, dressing their wounds and ulcers. She generously gave alms to all who were in
need, and was especially concerned with the plight of lepers and orphans.
They had three children when tragedy struck – Ludwig was killed while fighting with the
Crusaders. After his death, Elizabeth moved to Marburg, made arrangements for the care of her
children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St. Francis.
They had three children when tragedy struck – Ludwig was killed while fighting with the
Crusaders. After his death, Elizabeth moved to Marburg, made arrangements for the care of her
children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St. Francis.
St. Elizabeth died at the young age of 24 on November 17, 1231. Her great popularity
resulted in her canonization four years later.

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): Patron of Catholic Universities, Colleges and Schools
Saint Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Catholic philosopher and theologian in the
scholastic tradition, known as Doctor Angelicus and Doctor Universalis. He is considered by the
Catholic Church to be its greatest theologian; he is one of the thirty-three Doctors of the Church.
Thomas was born c. 1225 at his father's castle of near Rome. His father was Landulf,
Count of Aquinas, and his mother was Countess Theodora, of noble Norman descent.
In his fifth year he was sent for his education to the monastery of Monte Cassino, where
his father's brother Sinibald was abbot. Later, he studied in Naples.
C. 1243 he determined to enter the Dominican order. But on the way to Rome he was
seized by his brothers and brought back to his parents at the castle of San Giovanni. He was
held a captive for nearly two years. With pleas, threats, and even sensual temptation, his family
tried to make him give up his vocation.
With the intervention of Pope Innocent IV, the family yielded. Thomas immediately
pronounced his vows. The order sent Thomas to Cologne to study under Albertus Magnus, the
most renowned professor of the order. In the school, Thomas’ humility and silence were
misinterpreted as signs of dullness, but when Albert had heard his brilliant defence of a difficult
thesis, he exclaimed: “We call this young man a dumb ox, but his bellowing in doctrine will one
day resound throughout the world.”
For several years, he remained with Albertus Magnus. Thomas’ long association with the
great philosopher-theologian was the most important influence in his development; it made him
a comprehensive scholar.
In 1252, Thomas went to Paris for the master's degree. Eventually, he obtained his
degree of Doctor of Theology at the University of Paris.
From this time, Thomas’ life may be summed up in a few words: praying, preaching,
teaching, writing, journeying. Although St. Thomas lived less than fifty years, he composed
more than sixty works, some of them brief, some very lengthy, one of the most important of
which is Summa Theologica.
Early in 1274, the pope directed him to attend the Council of Lyons and he undertook the
journey, although he was far from well.
On the way he stopped at the castle of a niece and there became seriously ill. He
wished to end his days in a monastery and not being able to reach a house of the Dominicans,
he was carried to the Cistercian Fossanova.
He died on 7 March, 1274. Numerous miracles served as proof of his sanctity. On July
18, 1323, he was canonized by Pope John XXII.
The Roman Catholic Church celebrates his feast on January 28, the date of publication
of the Summa.

St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639): Patron of Public Health & Social Justice

St. Martin de Porres was born at Lima, Peru, in 1579. His father was a Spanish
gentleman and his mother a coloured freed-woman from Panama. At fifteen, he became a lay
brother at the Dominican Friary at Lima and spent his whole life there – as a barber, farm
laborer, almoner, and infirmarian among other things.
Martin had a great desire to go off to some foreign mission and thus earn the palm of
martyrdom. However, since this was not possible, he made a martyr out of his body, devoting
himself to ceaseless and severe penances. In turn, God endowed him with many graces and
wondrous gifts, such as, aerial flights and bilocation.
St. Martin's love was all-embracing, shown equally to humans and to animals, including
vermin, and he maintained a cats and dogs hospital at his sister's house. He also possessed
spiritual wisdom, demonstrated in his solving his sister's marriage problems, raising a dowry for
his niece inside of three day's time, and resolving theological problems for the learned of his
Order and for bishops.
A close friend of St. Rose of Lima, this saintly man died on November 3, 1639 and was
canonized on May 6, 1962. His feast day is November 3.