Has nursing lost its way? Dual perspective

Do professions have a future?

“…The commitment to serve society, a key attribute of all professions, has been questioned from within and outside the ranks of medicine, and the medical professions' powers and privileges of self regulation have been challenged 1 2 3 4 5 6. A King's Fund seminar last autumn on the future of the professions brought together a range of perspectives, including views from architecture, nursing, medicine, and politics.…”

Senior nurses are out of touch

“…The contributions of Jacqueline Short (a nurse who became a doctor) and Ann Bradshaw (a lecturer in nursing), both with a different view,2 are said to show shaky reasoning and nostalgia for a mythical golden age 1. M Barton3 rejects Hay's assertion4 that the nursing leadership is “frog-marching” nursing towards clinical autonomy (and research) against the wishes of the “rank and file.” Our experience is that this is the case--not for every nurse, and clearly not for Barton, but for many.…”

Problems of hierarchy are not confined to nursing

“…It is only by trying to understand the pressures on each other's professions that we can avoid destructive bickering and conflict, which would weaken the public's confidence in our professionalism. Two articles attempted to keep the dialogue open in a spirit of mutual respect 3 4…”