Professionalism

PROFESSIONALISM Objectives  What is professionalism'  What values or behaviours are associated with professionalism'  How can professionalism be assessed'  How can professionalism be taught'  How can lapses or breaches in professionalism be addressed' What is Professionalism' Professionalism is: • Having an awareness of how your actions, body language, and words affect others What is professionalism' Adapted from Phillips, Phillips, Fixsen & Wolf (1974)  Conduct, aims or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person” (Merriam-Webster, 2009)  “Qualities or typical features of a profession or professional. A collection of attitudes and actions; it suggests knowledge and technical skill.” (RNAO, 2007) • Professionalism is exhibited by …professional character…or the “standing, practice, or methods of a professional” as distinguished from an amateur.” ~ American College Dictionary The ANA Code for Nurses defines professionalism, as follows: 1. The nurse provides services with respect for human dignity and the uniqueness of the client, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems. 2. The nurse safeguards the client’s right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature. 3. The nurse acts to safeguard the client and the public when health care and safety are affected by the incompetent, unethical, or illegal practice of any person. 4. The nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for individual nursing judgments and actions. 5. The nurse maintains competence in nursing. The nurse exercises informed judgment and uses individual competence and qualifications as criteria in seeking consultation, accepting responsibilities, and delegating nursing activities to others. 7. The nurse participates in activities that contribute to the ongoing development of the profession’s body of knowledge. 8. The nurse participates in the profession’s efforts to implement and improve standards of nursing. 9. The nurse participates in the profession’s efforts to establish and maintain conditions of employment conducive to high quality nursing care. 10. The nurse participates in the profession’s effort to protect the public from misinformation and misrepresentation and to maintain the integrity of nursing. 11. The nurse collaborates with members of the health professions and other citizens in promoting community and national efforts to meet the health needs of the public. Definition of Profession  An occupation whose core element is work based upon the mastery of a complex body of knowledge and skills. It is a vocation in which knowledge of some department of science or learning or the practice of an art founded upon it is used in the service of others. Its members possess a commitment to competence, integrity, morality, altruism and the promotion of the public good within their domain. These commitments form the basis of a social contract between a profession and society, which in return grants the profession the right to autonomy to practice and the privilege of self-regulation. Professions and their members are accountable to those serviced and to society.” (Cruess & Cruess, 2004, RNAO, 2007) • A professional is one who follows “an occupation as a means of livelihood or gain” or who is “engages in one of the learned professions.” What is the importance of professionalism'  It gives everyone a predictable and efficient way of interacting with one another  this prevents encountering unpredictable work situations  using professional skills makes work situation more predictable  Feedback helps to develop new skills and refine existing skills  both corrective and positive  Feedback helps to change maladaptive behavior by giving you new technology that leads to the development of new skills  E.g., during a school visit, your colleagues can help you change you facial expression or the way in which your are interacting with the child to appear most caring  these small responses have a large impact  Don’t punish feedback givers’ behavior  “it was nothing” -you’ll get less feedback  Have to maintain a positive work environment to help deal with sometimes very challenging behavior it is not functional to complain but to concentrate on problem solving behavior - positive and corrective feedback  Behaving professionally enhances the credibility of the Bernards Township Science Based Intervention Program for Children with Autism.  We are viewed by not only the progress of our students –but how we interact with them and each other. Professional Competence  …“the habitual and judicious use of communication, knowledge, technical skills, clinical reasoning,emotions, values and reflection in daily practice for the benefit of the individual and community being served.” (Epstein & Hundert, 2002) Professional Presence  As a reflective practitioner, the registered nurse demonstrates confidence, integrity, optimism, passion, and empathy, in accordance with professional standards, guidelines and codes of ethics. This includes the registered nurses’ verbal and nonverbal communications and the ability to articulate a positive role and professional image, including the use of name and title (CNO, 2008) Principles of Professionalism  Altruistic concern for patient welfare  Individuals bound together by commitment  Specialized body of knowledge  Self-regulation, accountability, integrity, honesty  Social contract with society, service to the public  Ethics, ethical behaviour, patient autonomy, dignity,  Social justice Professional Values  CNA, Code of Ethics, Seven Primary Values  Providing safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care  Promoting health and well-being  Promoting and respecting informed decision making  Preserving dignity  Maintaining privacy and confidentiality  Promoting justice  Being accountable  (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008)  Need to acquire and internalize values espoused by profession  Provide a common framework on which expectations and standards can be developed  Ethics instruction increases moral reasoning and judgment. “For full embodiment of professional values to occur, education, service and the profession must deliberately participate in the process.” (p. 274, Weis & Schank, 2002 Social Justice and professionalism  Upholding legal and moral humanistic principles  Ensure equal treatment and access to health care through impartiality and non discriminatory care, supporting universal access to care and legislation that promotes improvement of health care. (Vezeau, 2006)  Responsible use of limited resources Why is Professionalism Important'  Ensures quality of patient care  Use of best evidence in practice  Competence and safety in a changing world  Collegial working relationships with other disciplines  Sharing limited resources