Teaching was considered an occupation until the bachelor degree became the entry level into the profession. I can hear groans from my fellow nurses but read on. This did not necessarily make better teachers but elevated the status of teaching in the eyes of those previously making decisions for them. This one move served to unify and empower teachers as never before. The next and most important step in the evolution of teaching and the biggest lesson for nursing was the unionization of teachers.
Teaching is one of the country's most unionized professions.
The unionization of teachers has brought strength, unity, and control for their profession. It has ensured teaching a future, as they control their profession from academia to retirement. Teachers have control over cirriculums, the mentoring of new teachers, and their contracts. Nursing needs the unity and direction a strong, nurse-loyal professional union would provide. We also need frontline nurses on local, state, and national boards, committees, and legislative bodies that make decisions that effect our practice.