Nancy M. 

Is Nursing a Profession?

What are the hallmarks of a profession? All professions are occupations, but not all occupations are professions. According to Haynes, Boese, and Butcher (2004), Styles (1992) list requirements for an occupation to be a profession:

• Extensive university education
• A unique body of knowledge
• an orientation of service to others
• Autonomy, self-regulation, Code of Ethics
• A professional society

Until all nurses hold the first, registered nurses will not be practicing a profession.