Introduction
Nursing is a unique profession since it involves dealing with human beings. It does not only involve providing medical services to patients but also caring for those patients. The book, Guide to Nursing policy and statement provides insight into the nursing practice and how nurses should carry out their activities ( American Nurses Association, 2010) . The chapters in the book which address nursing practice comprehensively are: Nursing’s social policy statement and nursing’s social contract, vocation and calling, restoring a sense of calling, and formation of both doing and being.
Nursing’s social policy statement and nursing’s social contract
The key point from this chapter is that nursing’s social policy statement does not dictate how nurses should behave and carry out their activities but rather spells out the parameters of the relationship between nursing as a profession and society. Nurses, in this case, are affected by the statement because they compose of the profession and they are that they are the executioners of the requirements of the profession ( Fowler, 2008) . It is learned from the chapter that there is a social contract between the nursing profession and society and that nurses are required to observe this contract because of their involvement with the profession.
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Vocation and calling
The key point which is highlighted in this chapter is that nursing is less of a profession and more of a calling. In this chapter, it is argued that being referred to as a nurse is not simply about doing nursing or executing the mandates required of the nursing but It is being a nurse who is a nurse in the sense that nursing becomes one’ identity ( Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011) . This implies that nursing becomes an abiding where motivation is not derived from the financial rewards obtained after accomplishing a particular task but it is derived from the desire to serve people.
Formation as both doing and being
The key point in this chapter is that nursing does not only involve doing what one is required as a professional nurse but it also involves being there as a nurse. This chapter indicates that nursing as a profession does not involve only providing the healthcare services to patients but it also being there for them and comforting them ( Russell, 2012) . The chapter highlights the situation of the biblical Job to illustrate this. It indicates that some of the medical services that Job required due to his illness include wound care, rehydration, and antidepressants. However, most importantly, he needed someone to be there with him to share in his suffering. This chapter indicates that being a true nurse also involves being there for the patient and with the patient. This, according to this chapter, contributes to the healing process of the patient.
Restoring a sense of calling
The key point in this chapter is that there is need for professional reforms in nursing to restore a sense of calling in the profession. It highlights the need to introduce in the nursing education to restore values which enabled nursing to be a calling rather than a calling ( American Nurses Association, 2010) . The three sets of values which are addressed in this chapter are values of professional practice, values of the academy, and the ethical-social values of professional identity. Restoration of these values, according to this chapter, will enhance the integrity of nursing as a profession and make it become more of a calling.
References
American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing's social policy statement: The essence of the profession . Nursesbooks. org.
Fowler, M. D. M. (2008). Guide to the code of ethics for nurses: Interpretation and application . Nursesbooks. org.
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (Eds.). (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Russell, K. A. (2012). Nurse practice acts guide and govern nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Regulation , 3 (3), 36-42.
