NUR 2058 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE VERSION 2
Chapter 1
Define evidence-based practice: The selective and practical use of the best
evidence, as demonstrated by research, to guide health-care implementation
and decisions (found under terms)
Review difference between roles: (pg. 4)
o Position: A group of tasks assigned to one individual
o Job: A group of positions similar in nature and level of skill that can
be carried out by one or more individuals
o Occupation: A group of jobs similar in type of work that are usually
found throughout an industry or work environment
o Profession: A type of occupation that requires prolonged preparation
and formal qualifications and meets certain higher level criteria that
raise it to a level above that of an occupation
o Professional: A person who belongs to and practices a profession
(The term professional is probably the most misused of all these terms
when describing people who are clearly involved in jobs or
occupations, such as a “professional truck driver,” “professional
football player,” or even “professional thief.”)
o Professionalism: The demonstration of high-level personal, ethical,
and skill characteristics of a member of a profession
Identify the traits that define a profession: (pg. 4 & 5)
o Process approach: The process approach views all occupations as
points of development into a profession situated along a continuum
ranging from position to profession.
Using this approach, the question becomes not whether nursing and
truck driving are professions but where they are located along the
continuum
o Power approach: The power approach uses two criteria to define a
profession: 1) How much independence of practice does this
, occupation have? And 2) How much power does this occupation
control? Using this determinant, law and politics would clearly be
considered professions.
o Trait approach: 3 theorists (Abraham Flexner, Elizabeth Bixler, and
Eliza Pabalko) are most widely accepted researches when it comes to
identifying traits that define a profession. They determined these
characteristics to be important:
High intellectual level
High level of individual responsibility and accountability
Specialized body of knowledge
Knowledge that can be learned in institutions of higher
education
Public service and altruistic activities
Public service valued over financial gain
Relatively high degree of autonomy and independence of
practice
Need for a well-organized and strong organization representing
the members of the profession and controlling the quality of
practice
A code of ethics that guides members of the profession in their
practice
Strong professional identity and commitment to the
development of the profession
Demonstration of professional competency and possession of a
legally recognized license
Review how nursing compares with other professions: (pg. 5 & 6)
o High Intellectual Level: as health care has advanced and made great
strides in technology, pharmacology, and all branches of the physical
, sciences, a high level of intellectual functioning is required for even
relatively simple nursing tasks, such as taking a client's temperature or
blood pressure using automated equipment. On a daily basis, nurses
use assessment skills and knowledge, have the ability to reason, and
make routine judgments based on clients’ conditions. Without a
doubt, professional nurses must function at a high intellectual level.
o High Level of Individual Responsibility and Accountability:
Nurses are often the primary, and frequently the only, defendants
named when errors are made that result in injury to the client. Nurses
must be accountable and demonstrate a high level of individual
responsibility for the care and services they provide
o Specialized Body of Knowledge: As the body of specialized nursing
knowledge continues to grow, it forms a theoretical basis for the best
practices movement in nursing today. As more nurses obtain advanced
degrees, conduct research, and develop philosophies and theories
about nursing, this body of knowledge will increase in scope and
quantity.
o Evidence-Based Practice: In professional nursing today, there is an
increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice. Almost all of the
currently used nursing theories address this issue in some way
o Public Service and Altruistic Activities: The public service function
of nursing has always been recognized and acknowledged by society's
willingness to continue to educate nurses in public, tax-supported
institutions and in private schools. In addition, nursing has been
viewed universally as an altruistic profession composed of selfless
individuals who place the lives and well-being of their clients above
their personal safety.
Review how students should use recourses like websites, journals (pg. 7 &
8):
o Peer Review: When considering a Web source, look for a clear
statement of the source of the information and how that information is
reviewed. If the information is from an established source, such as a
recognized professional journal, it has been peer reviewed and has a
higher degree of accuracy.
o Author Credentials: The name of the author and his or her titles and
credentials should be listed. Be cautious if no author or publisher is
listed. You can also look at the last three letters in the website address.
The ones that end in .gov, .org, or .edu tend to have higher-quality
Chapter 1
Define evidence-based practice: The selective and practical use of the best
evidence, as demonstrated by research, to guide health-care implementation
and decisions (found under terms)
Review difference between roles: (pg. 4)
o Position: A group of tasks assigned to one individual
o Job: A group of positions similar in nature and level of skill that can
be carried out by one or more individuals
o Occupation: A group of jobs similar in type of work that are usually
found throughout an industry or work environment
o Profession: A type of occupation that requires prolonged preparation
and formal qualifications and meets certain higher level criteria that
raise it to a level above that of an occupation
o Professional: A person who belongs to and practices a profession
(The term professional is probably the most misused of all these terms
when describing people who are clearly involved in jobs or
occupations, such as a “professional truck driver,” “professional
football player,” or even “professional thief.”)
o Professionalism: The demonstration of high-level personal, ethical,
and skill characteristics of a member of a profession
Identify the traits that define a profession: (pg. 4 & 5)
o Process approach: The process approach views all occupations as
points of development into a profession situated along a continuum
ranging from position to profession.
Using this approach, the question becomes not whether nursing and
truck driving are professions but where they are located along the
continuum
o Power approach: The power approach uses two criteria to define a
profession: 1) How much independence of practice does this
, occupation have? And 2) How much power does this occupation
control? Using this determinant, law and politics would clearly be
considered professions.
o Trait approach: 3 theorists (Abraham Flexner, Elizabeth Bixler, and
Eliza Pabalko) are most widely accepted researches when it comes to
identifying traits that define a profession. They determined these
characteristics to be important:
High intellectual level
High level of individual responsibility and accountability
Specialized body of knowledge
Knowledge that can be learned in institutions of higher
education
Public service and altruistic activities
Public service valued over financial gain
Relatively high degree of autonomy and independence of
practice
Need for a well-organized and strong organization representing
the members of the profession and controlling the quality of
practice
A code of ethics that guides members of the profession in their
practice
Strong professional identity and commitment to the
development of the profession
Demonstration of professional competency and possession of a
legally recognized license
Review how nursing compares with other professions: (pg. 5 & 6)
o High Intellectual Level: as health care has advanced and made great
strides in technology, pharmacology, and all branches of the physical
, sciences, a high level of intellectual functioning is required for even
relatively simple nursing tasks, such as taking a client's temperature or
blood pressure using automated equipment. On a daily basis, nurses
use assessment skills and knowledge, have the ability to reason, and
make routine judgments based on clients’ conditions. Without a
doubt, professional nurses must function at a high intellectual level.
o High Level of Individual Responsibility and Accountability:
Nurses are often the primary, and frequently the only, defendants
named when errors are made that result in injury to the client. Nurses
must be accountable and demonstrate a high level of individual
responsibility for the care and services they provide
o Specialized Body of Knowledge: As the body of specialized nursing
knowledge continues to grow, it forms a theoretical basis for the best
practices movement in nursing today. As more nurses obtain advanced
degrees, conduct research, and develop philosophies and theories
about nursing, this body of knowledge will increase in scope and
quantity.
o Evidence-Based Practice: In professional nursing today, there is an
increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice. Almost all of the
currently used nursing theories address this issue in some way
o Public Service and Altruistic Activities: The public service function
of nursing has always been recognized and acknowledged by society's
willingness to continue to educate nurses in public, tax-supported
institutions and in private schools. In addition, nursing has been
viewed universally as an altruistic profession composed of selfless
individuals who place the lives and well-being of their clients above
their personal safety.
Review how students should use recourses like websites, journals (pg. 7 &
8):
o Peer Review: When considering a Web source, look for a clear
statement of the source of the information and how that information is
reviewed. If the information is from an established source, such as a
recognized professional journal, it has been peer reviewed and has a
higher degree of accuracy.
o Author Credentials: The name of the author and his or her titles and
credentials should be listed. Be cautious if no author or publisher is
listed. You can also look at the last three letters in the website address.
The ones that end in .gov, .org, or .edu tend to have higher-quality
