Interviews on Nursing
I interviewed three people. Lucile is 80 years old. The only hospitalization she has had, except for the birth of her child, was for a hip replacement two years ago. I also interviewed Lucile's daughter, Roberta. Roberta is 50 and has diabetes. Finally, I interviewed Roberta's nephew, Robert. Robert is a 20-year-old college student.
Is nursing a profession?
Lucile: I think it's a profession. Nurses have to have a lot of training, don't they? When I was in the hospital I think the nurses made decisions about my medical care. Doesn't that make them a professional?
Roberta: To me, to be a professional means that you make important decisions independent of people who are over you. I'm an engineer, and the decisions I make don't have to be approved by someone else. So to me, a doctor is a professional but a nurse is not. I'm not saying they don't perform an important job, but they usually don't make diagnoses and decide treatment.
Doctors give the orders and nurses follow them, isn't that right?
Can you describe the characteristics in the individual that attributes to professional behavior?
Lucile: I think the most important thing about being professional is confidentiality. I would be very upset if I thought nurses were gossiping about me in the hallway, for instance.
Roberta: Well, that's a little tricky, because I just said they aren't professionals, but I do expect professional behavior. I think people who act professionally don't take small things personally. They don't argue with the people they serve whether it's a client or a patient. They find tactful and productive ways to resolve differences.
Robert: I think professional behavior means you take other people seriously when you're dealing with them at work. You don't blow them off. You also take responsibility to make sure things are taken…
