Exploring the perception and reality of professionalism in UK nursing

Butler, Sarah

Abstract

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.

Citation

Butler, S. (2024). Exploring the perception and reality of professionalism in UK nursing. Nursing Management, Article e2144. https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2024.e2144

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 26, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 29, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 26, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: May 30, 2025
• Print ISSN: 1354-5760
• Publisher: RCN Publishing (RCNi)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: e2144
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2024.e2144
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4748958