Judith Morgan and colleagues describe work done to achieve consensus and set down a definition for nurses and midwives
In 2010, the chief nursing officer and nurse director for Wales commissioned a study to identify attitudes and behaviours associated with professionalism for nurses and midwives in Wales. The study was part of an exploration project of professionalism in nursing and midwifery. A Delphi study design was used to generate a consensus on the question ‘What does “professionalism” mean in terms of attitudes and behaviours for nurses and midwives in Wales?’ The question was put to an expert panel, comprising 27 members of the Consultant Nurse, Midwives and Health Professionals Forum and eight directors of nursing, using electronic questionnaires. The descriptors generated were subsumed into categories that were ranked, statistically tested and attributed a Likert-type score before consensus was achieved. The resultant categories and themes defined acceptable and unacceptable attitudes and behaviours, and enabled the development of an overarching short definition of professionalism. This carves a unique niche in the evidence base on professionalism and provides a tool for replicating the study in other countries and for other professional groups such as healthcare support workers, nursing and midwifery students and allied health professionals.
Nursing Management. 21, 7, 28-40. doi: 10.7748/nm.21.7.28.e1253
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 17 September 2014
Accepted: 29 September 2014
or
Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more