Professional nurses have autonomy in decision making and practice.
Criteria to assess a profession from a nonprofession include the presence of theory, relevance to basic social values, a training or educational period, motivation, autonomy, a sense of commitment, a sense of community, and a code of ethics. Nursing would not be what it is today without history. We should learn from our history makers so we are not forced to repeat the past. Nursing has achieved professionalism in social values and a strong code of ethics. The role of the professional nurse has evolved from the days of Florence Nightingale when nurses where expected to provide care, perform housekeeping duties, wash the linen, and prepare and serve the meals.