title: Occupational prestige for registered nurses in the Asia-Pacific region: status consensus.
abstract: Occupational prestige for nurses may result in improved job satisfaction, enhanced abilities in health promotion activities, and autonomy in decision-making related to patient care. Regional consensus in the ascription of professional occupational status and consequent prestige, between health workers and within registered nurses, has been investigated within the Asia-Pacific region and other countries. Consensus for registered nurses and medical officers at the level of professional was supported for 66% of countries. Australia, although rapid and complete in its transition to degree level education, still reflects a paraprofessional status compared with the professional status of medical officers. Registered nurses from Thailand and the Philippines led the region in within-group consensus with 80% of registered nurses holding a degree as their minimum educational qualification. Findings highlight the need to promote professional status for all registered nurses within the Asia-Pacific region and outline areas for potential disjuncture between status and prestige achievement.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Sydney, Macarthur, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bowman
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D001315:Australia; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010139:Pacific Islands; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D011287:Prejudice; D012923:Social Class