Abstract This paper argues that professional regulatory frameworks are shaped by sociocultural factors and prevailing ideologies that stem from society’s interactions with and expectations of the regulated professions. Taking a century of Irish nursing and midwifery regulation as a case reflection, the paper highlights five regulatory pivot points to provide a historical narrative of how adopting a sociocultural perspective can enlighten our understanding of the current regulatory form. A form that in early twenty-first-century Ireland resulted in the establishment of a professionally contentious, non-professional (lay) majority on the regulatory board for these frontline professions. The paper concludes by suggesting that when viewed through a sociocultural lens, regulatory change is to be expected. As prevailing ideologies change, power, influence and cultures alter to support and reinforce the new ideology. Professional regulation thereby becomes reflective of society’s views on professionalism and professional identity, drawing on society’s historical experiences of the professions.

中文翻译：

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从社区勤杂工到前线英雄：绘制一个世纪的爱尔兰护理和助产士法规

摘要 本文认为，专业监管框架是由社会文化因素和主流意识形态塑造的，这些意识形态源于社会与受监管专业的互动和期望。以爱尔兰一个世纪的护理和助产监管作为案例反思，该论文强调了五个监管支点，以提供一个历史叙述，说明采用社会文化视角如何启发我们对当前监管形式的理解。这种形式在 21 世纪初的爱尔兰导致在这些一线职业的监管委员会中建立了具有专业争议的非专业（非专业）多数。该论文最后提出，从社会文化的角度来看，监管变化是可以预料的。随着主流意识形态的变化，权力、影响力和文化会改变以支持和加强新的意识形态。因此，专业监管反映了社会对专业精神和专业身份的看法，借鉴了社会对专业的历史经验。