Criteria of profession

Part 5

 Competencies and professional license

Nurses must pass a national licensure examination to demonstrate that they are qualified to practice nursing. Only after passing the examination the nurses are allowed to practice. The granting of a nursing license is a legal activity conducted by the individual state under the regulation contained in the state's nursing act.

Autonomy and independence of practice

In reality nursing is both an independent and interdependent discipline . Nurses in all health care setting must work with physicians, hospital administrators, pharmacist and other groups in the provision of care . In some cases nurses in advanced practice role eg. Nurse practitioners can do establish their independent practices. To be considered a true profession, nursing will need to be recognised by other disciplines as having practitioners who practice nursing independently.

Professional Identity and development

Until nurses are fully committed to the procession of nursing, identify with it as a profession and are dedicated to its future development, nursing will probably not achieve professional status.