Professionalism in Healthcare

Professionalism:

●Not concrete and done by observation

●Patients have to come back to you in order for you to make a living

●Think about the professional identity you want to project onto the patient;

you are a role model to everyone

●Derived from profession

○Set of values, beliefs, relationships with patients that underlie public’s

health in that professional

○You’ll be given a manual and most schools have institutionalized what

the definition of what professionalism is:

■Example: Massachusetts University’s definition says all students

are expected to be polite with faculty, families, patients, and staff.

Massachusetts University Example continued Professional

Attributes/Characteristics:

●Have honesty and integrity

●Don’t falsify information

●Show respect for the patient and their rights and make an attempt to have a

good relationship

●Have appropriate empathy and wait for their questions and answers

●Maintain patient confidentiality and professional demeanor.

○Don’t show anger physically and don’t get too personal with them.

●Recognize your limits, accept criticism and responsibility for errors.

●Demonstrate dependability (showing up on time) and interact with other

staff members.

●Ex. big difference between professional and student; professional dress

(you’re not licensed, knowing when to get help from someone) {big for

clinical grading}

●Independence: Goes from instructor looking over your shoulder to sitting

away to viewing you through a one way mirror

●Don’t speak for patient

Example from Wisconsin/Michigan:

●Don’t do anything illegal

●Don’t talk badly about hospital or facility or staff

●You have to take some CEUS about ethics

●Figure out how to improve your communication with others

●Recognize that nuances are a thing

Professionalism in Healthcare

Pre-Health Professional Development (HLTH 3300)