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Independent professional judgment is high on the list
FEBRUARY 1984, VOL 39, NO 3
AORN JOURNAL
Editoria1 Independent professional judgment is high on the list
Y
ou probably know people like me. I make lists for everything. I am making lists to prepare for Congress-a list of ideas for articles in the daily Congress News, a list of work projects to finish before leaving, and a list of things to take to Atlanta. Others going to Congress may be making lists for the person who will care for the children. Or they may be jotting down things to stock in the freezer for the family’s meals during the week. Such detailed preparation shows a commitment to arriving at Congress unencumbered. Without concerns about what is happening at home or work, energies can be directed toward professional growth and development. That is a high goal and one of the primary purposes of Congress. There is another equally important purpose for Congress. It requires more than arriving in Atlanta unencumbered. It does not necessarily result in immediate benefits as the education sessions often do. This purpose is making decisions about issues important to perioperative nurses. Exercising professional judgment is the key to this decision-making process. Professionaljudgment is one of those phrases that soundsgood and few would question. It is in the same category as improved patient care. Who would vote against that? But without explaining how, when, and who, improved patient care has little meaning. Let’s consider the meaning of the phrase independent professional judgment. I think a degree of independence is needed to make professional judgments. Independent is a popular word these
days associated with power, freedom, and individuality. In this phrase, independent means freedom from domineering outside influences. Have you developed your own opinion on, for example, perioperative nurses acting as first assistants or have you merely adopted the position of an influential surgeon or a respected nursing colleague? What effect do the following statements about first assisting have on you? The surgeon says, “I need someone to assist me on these cases. You know what to do, so how about it?” A nursing colleague says, “First assisting is not nursing. ” Being persuaded by a rationale is not the same as being swayed by a personality. These questions may help determine if a personality or a rationale has affected your opinion. Did the person present new information? Did the person put information in a different perspective? 0 Did the rationale make as much sense when you thought about it alone? Affirmative answers probably indicate that a rationale rather than a personality has changed your perspective. One thing independent does not mean in this phrase is alone. Exchanging ideas is necessary to be confident of judgments. You may have had the same type of experience that I have had. When trying to make a decision, I become absorbed in thinking about the problem. After coming to a conclusion in isolation, I announce it. No sooner do I hear my explanation than I realize that it is incomplete. Once an idea is translated into words, its weaknesses often become apparent.
d285
FEBRUARY 1984, VOL 39, NO 3
AORN JOURNAL
After forming an opinion on a professional issue, articulate it to your nursing colleagues. Even if they disagree, ask what they see as valuable about your views. Include other health care professionals in the discussion; their perspective may be new to you and yours to them. Find out what they think, and more importantly, why. Much has been written about being professional. A professional has been defined as someone who is “thought to have a special knowledge, special skills, special resources, and special responsibilities. The principal assets of a professional reside, of course, in the professional’s commitment to use hislher specialized knowledge and skills for the benefit of society. I see a professional as someone who is concerned with results rather than tasks. A resultsoriented person evaluates how to improve the final outcome, while a task-oriented person focuses primarily on each step along the way without giving much attention to the overall picture. A results-oriented nurse might evaluate how computers could make the operating room more efficient. In contrast, a task-oriented nurse might not even think of using computers. Once the idea is proposed, the task-oriented nurse would be concerned with learning how to use the computer; the results-oriented nurse would evaluate the effects of using a computer. Judgment is a powerful word because of its connotations of authority, finality, and law. A professional forms an independent judgment after evaluating all available information. This Journal and the delegate’s packets contain much information about the issues to be discussed at Congress. Delegate’s packets are available on a limited basis in the Bookstore (Room 203) and cost $5. Using this information to form independent professionaljudgments will make these discussions more meaningful and productive. While making lists to prepare for Congress, why not make one outlining your views and rationale on the issues to be discussed at the House of Delegates and forums? There is still time. Being prepared to exercise your independent professional judgment means you will give
”’
as much to the AORN Congress as you will receive. VALERIEPOLAND ASSOCIATE EDITOR Note 1 . Jeannette R Spero, “Nursing: A professional practice discipline in academia, ” Nursing & Health Cure 1 (August 1980) 22-25.
Groups Meeting During Atlanta Congress Several state groups have planned meetings during Congress. The following notices were received before the Pre-Congress Journal went to press in December. Other meeting announcements can be listed in the Congress News in Atlanta. The North Carolina participants at Congress will meet from 5 to 6 pm on Sunday, March 4 in Room 309. The Phoenix and the Valley Chapter will meet for a wine and cheese party Monday, March 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Omni Hotel. The event is for all Arizona nurses, those presently living and practicing in Arizona, and those who have moved. The Michigan Council of AORN will meet from 630 to 7:45 am Wednesday, March 7, in Room 306 of the Georgia World Congress Center. The New York State Council will meet from 11:40 am to 12:30 pm Monday, March 5 , in Room 306 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The Maryland Council of chapters and District of Columbia will meet from 5 to 7 pm Sunday, March 4, in Room 305 of the Georgia World Congress Center. The Legislative Committee will meet from 4 to 7 pm Saturday, March 3, in Room 305 of the Georgia World Congress Center.
AORN JOURNAL
Editoria1 Independent professional judgment is high on the list
Y
ou probably know people like me. I make lists for everything. I am making lists to prepare for Congress-a list of ideas for articles in the daily Congress News, a list of work projects to finish before leaving, and a list of things to take to Atlanta. Others going to Congress may be making lists for the person who will care for the children. Or they may be jotting down things to stock in the freezer for the family’s meals during the week. Such detailed preparation shows a commitment to arriving at Congress unencumbered. Without concerns about what is happening at home or work, energies can be directed toward professional growth and development. That is a high goal and one of the primary purposes of Congress. There is another equally important purpose for Congress. It requires more than arriving in Atlanta unencumbered. It does not necessarily result in immediate benefits as the education sessions often do. This purpose is making decisions about issues important to perioperative nurses. Exercising professional judgment is the key to this decision-making process. Professionaljudgment is one of those phrases that soundsgood and few would question. It is in the same category as improved patient care. Who would vote against that? But without explaining how, when, and who, improved patient care has little meaning. Let’s consider the meaning of the phrase independent professional judgment. I think a degree of independence is needed to make professional judgments. Independent is a popular word these
days associated with power, freedom, and individuality. In this phrase, independent means freedom from domineering outside influences. Have you developed your own opinion on, for example, perioperative nurses acting as first assistants or have you merely adopted the position of an influential surgeon or a respected nursing colleague? What effect do the following statements about first assisting have on you? The surgeon says, “I need someone to assist me on these cases. You know what to do, so how about it?” A nursing colleague says, “First assisting is not nursing. ” Being persuaded by a rationale is not the same as being swayed by a personality. These questions may help determine if a personality or a rationale has affected your opinion. Did the person present new information? Did the person put information in a different perspective? 0 Did the rationale make as much sense when you thought about it alone? Affirmative answers probably indicate that a rationale rather than a personality has changed your perspective. One thing independent does not mean in this phrase is alone. Exchanging ideas is necessary to be confident of judgments. You may have had the same type of experience that I have had. When trying to make a decision, I become absorbed in thinking about the problem. After coming to a conclusion in isolation, I announce it. No sooner do I hear my explanation than I realize that it is incomplete. Once an idea is translated into words, its weaknesses often become apparent.
d285
FEBRUARY 1984, VOL 39, NO 3
AORN JOURNAL
After forming an opinion on a professional issue, articulate it to your nursing colleagues. Even if they disagree, ask what they see as valuable about your views. Include other health care professionals in the discussion; their perspective may be new to you and yours to them. Find out what they think, and more importantly, why. Much has been written about being professional. A professional has been defined as someone who is “thought to have a special knowledge, special skills, special resources, and special responsibilities. The principal assets of a professional reside, of course, in the professional’s commitment to use hislher specialized knowledge and skills for the benefit of society. I see a professional as someone who is concerned with results rather than tasks. A resultsoriented person evaluates how to improve the final outcome, while a task-oriented person focuses primarily on each step along the way without giving much attention to the overall picture. A results-oriented nurse might evaluate how computers could make the operating room more efficient. In contrast, a task-oriented nurse might not even think of using computers. Once the idea is proposed, the task-oriented nurse would be concerned with learning how to use the computer; the results-oriented nurse would evaluate the effects of using a computer. Judgment is a powerful word because of its connotations of authority, finality, and law. A professional forms an independent judgment after evaluating all available information. This Journal and the delegate’s packets contain much information about the issues to be discussed at Congress. Delegate’s packets are available on a limited basis in the Bookstore (Room 203) and cost $5. Using this information to form independent professionaljudgments will make these discussions more meaningful and productive. While making lists to prepare for Congress, why not make one outlining your views and rationale on the issues to be discussed at the House of Delegates and forums? There is still time. Being prepared to exercise your independent professional judgment means you will give
”’
as much to the AORN Congress as you will receive. VALERIEPOLAND ASSOCIATE EDITOR Note 1 . Jeannette R Spero, “Nursing: A professional practice discipline in academia, ” Nursing & Health Cure 1 (August 1980) 22-25.
Groups Meeting During Atlanta Congress Several state groups have planned meetings during Congress. The following notices were received before the Pre-Congress Journal went to press in December. Other meeting announcements can be listed in the Congress News in Atlanta. The North Carolina participants at Congress will meet from 5 to 6 pm on Sunday, March 4 in Room 309. The Phoenix and the Valley Chapter will meet for a wine and cheese party Monday, March 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Omni Hotel. The event is for all Arizona nurses, those presently living and practicing in Arizona, and those who have moved. The Michigan Council of AORN will meet from 630 to 7:45 am Wednesday, March 7, in Room 306 of the Georgia World Congress Center. The New York State Council will meet from 11:40 am to 12:30 pm Monday, March 5 , in Room 306 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The Maryland Council of chapters and District of Columbia will meet from 5 to 7 pm Sunday, March 4, in Room 305 of the Georgia World Congress Center. The Legislative Committee will meet from 4 to 7 pm Saturday, March 3, in Room 305 of the Georgia World Congress Center.