Creasia and Parker (2007) defined “professionalization as the process through which an occupation achieves professional status”. With reference to “Merriam-Webster” dictionary (2015), “professional is interpreted as a person characterized by the technical or ethical standards of a profession in courteous, conscientious ways”.
Flexner (2001) has given “professional” an evolutionary definition, but generally classified into six criteria. They include the personal activity with the application of intellectual operations and personal responsibility, the learned character by resorting science-based resources, the application of those materials into definitely practical ends, involving communicable technique, the self-organization process, …show more content…
A research indicated that nurses reported a list of situations, such as delayed nurse responses to calls, conflicts resulting from staff communication problems and increasing physician workload, were caused by nursing shortages in hospitals (Buerhaus, Donelan, Ulrich, Norman, DesRoches & Dittus, 2007). It also reflected nursing shortages shortening nurses’ time for patients and lowering their ability to provide care on early detection of complications. Miss Chow Chiu-yin, the official of the Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff, said “the shortage caused by a high turnover of nurses puts patients at risk” (Lee, 2014). Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski and Silber (2002) also emphasized the positive relationship exists between nurse staffing and patients’ mortality rate. Adding one extra patient in the average nurse’s workload in the hospital will increase patients’ mortality rate by 7%. Such negative impact affecting the care delivery processes only ruins nursing excellence. Nurses bring negative health outcomes in public interest, and no longer meet the public responsibility, and de-professionalization eventually …show more content…
The most compelling benefit is the improvement of patient outcomes, especially under better-educated nursing workforce. Improved professional development opportunities for nurses have also been shown to radically decrease turnover rates and increase retention rates. These improvements ultimately lead to utilization of resources and financial outcome for the healthcare system.
Professional development has also been found to promote individualized development for nurses. It has been shown to improve their self-esteem and work confidence, eventually leading to better patient care. Furthermore, professional development increases job-satisfaction and the nurses would become more committed to their career.
In Hong Kong, the major barrier towards research utilization and nursing professional development is definitely shortage of nurses. Once nursing shortage has been strategized, professional development then