Purpose & Scope

Purpose:

Overall Goals of this BPG:

1. To identify the concept of professionalism as a guiding tenet that enhances outcomes for nurses, patients, organizations and systems.

2. To define the attributes of professionalism.

3. To identify and discuss the evidence related to each attribute of professionalism.

4. To provide strategies for success.

Scope:

The key areas addressed by this guideline are:

• Identification of a set of attributes that signify professionalism of the nurse
• Knowledge, competencies and behaviours of effective nurses who exhibit professional practices in their workplace
• Organizational structures, key elements and processes that support development of effective nursing professional practices

The recommendations in this guideline address:

• Identification of defining attributes of the professional nurse
• Strategies for success
• Future research opportunities

Target Audience

The guideline is intended for:

• Nurses in all roles including clinical nurses, administrators, educators and researchers those engaged in policy work, and nursing students
• Interdisciplinary team members
• Non-nursing administrators at the organizational and system level
• Policy makers and governments
• Professional organizations and regulatory bodies
• Members of the public