2

Moreover, some nurses tend to forget patients rights & may

even forget how to be polite with them.
According

to

American

Nurses

Association

(2004),

professional nurses serves as role-models & mentors to novice nurses

& students, providing feedback & support to staff about nursing issues
at an individual & organizational level. Moreover, Canadian Nurses
Association Code of Ethics (2008) stated that professional nurses share
their knowledge & guidance for the professional development of
nursing students & other health-care team member.
Here in the Philippines, Philippines Code of Ethics for nurses
(2002), listed a guideline that a professional nurse must contribute to
the professional growth & development of other members of the health
team & as stated in the Philippine Nursing Law, the duty of the
registered nurse is to teach, guide & supervise students in nursing
education programs including the administration of nursing services in
varied settings such as hospitals & clinics & engage in such activities
that require the utilization of knowledge & decision-making skills.
Locally, we student nurses of Saint Marys College of Tagum,
Inc. (SMCTI) are exposed to different hospitals in Tagum City & work
with professional nurses. As an aspiring nurse, we have been observing

the behaviours, characters & actions of these nurses that we work with
& we look up to them as our role model & be like them in the near
future. However, there are some instances that what we have learned
in the classroom about what a professional nurse should be is actually
different on what we have observed from the actual practice of these
nurses in the clinical area. Thus, this study would like to discover &
underst& the perception of student nurses on nurse professionalism.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to discover &
underst& how student nurses of St. Marys College of Tagum, Inc.
perceived nurse professionalism. Also, elaboration & exploration of the
definition of nurse professionalism in different views will be studied.
Research Questions:
1) What is nurse professionalism in student nurses point of view?
2) How do student nurses experience nurse professionalism?
3) How do student nurses feel about working with professional nurses?
4) What is the impact of working with professional nurses to student
nurses?
Theoretical Lens
This study is anchored on the concept of Ghadirian et al.,
(2014) & Keeling, et al., (2013).

According

to

Ghadirian

et

al.,

(2014)

the

nurse

professionalism is determined by three attributes which are cognitive,

attitudinal & psychomotor. Cognitive attribute is defined as the
development

of

professional

knowledge

in

nursing

profession.

Attitudinal attribute was described as professional values that create a

framework evaluation of attitudes & ideas influencing behavior in
professional clinicians. Finally, psychomotor attribute is directed to as
the st&ard practice in psychomotor competences. The amount of
interest the professional nurse shows in the learning needs of the
student & the key role she or he plays in their achievement are vital to
the students development (Jackson & Mannix, 2001; Marson, 1982).
Furthermore, Keeling, et al., (2013) revealed that student
nurses

perceived

vulnerability,

symbolic

representation,

role

modelling, discontent & professional development as elements that

informed their own professionalism.
Significance of the Study
The significance of this phenomenological study is to
describe the phenomenon of nursing professionalism among student
nurses of Saint Marys College of Tagum. Inc,.

Students. It was anticipated that this study serves to influence the

students venture to contend & pursue earning the competence they
need to become professional nurse.
Nurse Educators.

It is anticipated that the result of the study will

enlighten & give ideas to nurse educators how to help student nurses
develop the attributes of nurse professionalism that creates the new
breed of nurses.
School Administration. This study will serve as a basis for the school
administration in formulating or creating school guidelines, policies &
curriculum best fitted for student nurses to achieved maximum
excellence in their chosen profession.
Parents. It was anticipated that the result of the study will provide
information to parents for them to interact & closely monitor the needs
& daily activities of their children.
Future Researchers. The result of the study will help future
researchers to conduct study venturing more on how to enhance
professional growth of student nurses.
Hospital Administration. The result of the study will help the
administration in reinforcing the ideal & st&ard practice of professional
nurse in helping the development of professionalism in both student
nurses & clinical staff.

Definition of Terms
Professionalism.

Refers to the professional character, spirit or

methods. It is a set of attributes, a way of life that implies

responsibility & commitment (Kozier et al., 2004). In this study,
professionalism of nurse is the phenomena that we are going to
explore from our participants.
Aspirants. A person who tries to become something; a person who
aspires to do or to be something (Oxford Dictionary, 2012). In this
study, it refers to the student nurses of SMCTI who are our research
participants.
Professional Nurse. A person who has completed a basic nursing
education program & is licensed in his/her country or state to practice
professional nursing (Venzon L. et al, 2010) In this study, this refers to
the group of individuals with which their professionalism will be
explored from the perception of student nurses.
Limitations & Delimitations
This

study

is

delimited

to

perception

on

nurse

professionalism among student nurses of Saint Marys College of

Tagum, Inc. These students are males & females in their third, & fourth
year in nursing who have Related Learning Experience & with clinical
exposures in different hospitals who work with professional nurses.

Organization of the Study

This part of the study presents how the researchers begins
the study through identifying problems that we have observed in the
course of our chosen profession, as student nurse.

We have

formulated possible research titles from it & pass the chosen title to
our research adviser. After which, it was pursued by the making of the
research proposal based on the title approved by our adviser.
We sought out for literatures & journals & incorporated our own
experience to come up with the background of the study. As we made
the purpose of this study, each one of us talk over the things that we
really want to know & what we want achieve as we conduct this study.
We pointed out the relevance & usefulness of this study & who may
gain from it; relevant terms in this study were described conceptually
& operationally; limitations & delimitations are identified.
In chapter two (2), we were able to search & find out
different references like books & internet journals to find concepts
where our study maybe supported to. We picked up some related
literature & studies regarding nurse professionalism (in the aspirants
point of view).
In chapter three (3), we decided on what research
methodology to use that suits our purpose of the study & created an

interview guide & the informed consent (refer to Appendix A, B, C & D).
We submitted the final copy of chapter 1 to chapter 3 of our
manuscript to our research adviser & panelist. Defense of the research
title & proposal was done on March 1, 2016 & was approved by the
panelists. Revision of the research manuscript will be submitted on
March 9, 2016.