• To better understand what professionalism in nursing means and how it is perceived
• To increase your awareness of the challenges to nursing professionalism in the UK
• To reflect on your own professionalism as a nurse and what steps you can take to enhance it
For the individual nurse, professionalism includes attributes such as ethical practice, accountability, empathy and a commitment to ongoing professional development. A lack of nursing professionalism can negatively affect public trust, patient satisfaction and healthcare outcomes. This article examines whether professionalism is a reality in UK nursing or simply a perception. The author argues that professionalism in UK nursing is generally supported by education, adherence to standards and ethical conduct. However, challenges such as workload pressures, staffing shortages and negative portrayals of nursing in the media can undermine both the perception and the practice of nursing professionalism. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive strategies from policymakers, healthcare leaders and nurse educators. While professionalism in UK nursing is a reality, continuous efforts are needed to maintain standards, including from nurses themselves.
Nursing Management. doi: 10.7748/nm.2024.e2144
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Butler S (2024) Exploring the perception and reality of professionalism in UK nursing. Nursing Management. doi: 10.7748/nm.2024.e2144
Published online: 29 November 2024
or
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more