Toward a caring culture in professional nursing.

Abstract

Nursing is a profession founded on the traditional value of caring. Faced with rapid and tumultuous change in the health care system, nurses are finding the environment of practice more stressful and less supportive. The ideal of nursing as a caring community is at risk because of economic and political forces. The authors review the impact of managed care and reaffirm the notion of the caring community in the nursing profession. Specific assessment guidelines and recommendations for the caring community are set forth for practitioners working in a variety of organizational settings. Organizational culture is emphasized as the context for caring practice.