Changes in Nursing

The article I chose discusses the continual change in the roles of nurses. The article also poses a concept that nursing now is not based on caring, but medicine. "By accepting continual changes to the role of the nurse, the core function of nursing has become obscured and, despite assuming medical tasks, the occupation continues to be seen in terms of a role that is subordinate to and dependent on medicine." (Iley 2004) Nurses are taking a more professional role, and more tasks are being delegated to assertive personnel. Therefore, with all these changes occurring, the role of the enrolled nurse is unclear. "Previously, having two levels of qualified nurse in the United Kingdom had been seen as problematic for health service managers and nurses themselves, and the ending of enrolled nurse programs in 1992 helped to solve this problem." (2004) The study in this article gathered the characteristics of enrolled nurses and differentiated the groups converting to registered nurses, groups in the process of conversion, and groups interested or not interested in conversion. This study reveals the situation of enrolled nurses in context of continuing towards the professionalization of nursing. "The data from this study support the possibility that the role of nurses as direct caregivers is seen as a positive dimension of the work they undertake." (2004) The findings imply that nurses need to get back to being caregivers, instead of concentrating on obtaining professional status in medicine.

The significance of this article is that nursing is continually changing. The role of the nurse will always be based on direct care giving, however, nursing as an occupation is professional. In my opinion, this articleÐ''s information is relevant, and true to nursing not only in England but all over the world. We need to be prepared for this ever changing profession no matter where we are.

References

Iley, K. (2004). Occupational changes in nursing: the situation of enrolled nurses. Journal

of Advanced Nursing, 45(4), 360-370.