title: Licensure is not synonymous with professionalism: it's time to stop the hypocrisy.
abstract: Most professional disciplines are defined by the educational degree required to practice. Unfortunately, nursing is not one of those disciplines. To that end, the authors discuss the contribution multilevel entry into practice has on nursing's negative appeal to the emerging workforce and the misconception that licensure equates with professional status. They then propose a workable solution to the problem.
authors.affiliation: Medical-Surgical Services, Ottumwa Regional Health Center, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501, USA. mkidder@orhc.com
authors.forename: Monica Miller
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kidder
authors.forename: Patsy B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Cornelius
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008008:Licensure, Nursing; D014481:United States