PROFESSIONALI

SM
Linda Darnel Sutherland-Hines
Director of Nursing Services
Lo
l!
Who is a Professional
 Person formally certified by a
professional body of belonging to a
specific profession by virtue of having
completed a required course of studies
and/or practice. And whose competence
can usually be measured against an
established set of standards.

 http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/professional.html
Professionals are
 Trustworthy
 Competent
 Respectful
 Act with integrity
 Considerate
 Empathic
Professionals are:
 Courteous
 Dependable
 Cooperative
 Committed
Professionalism
 According to Meriam-Webster,
professionalism is defined as:"The
conduct, aims, or qualities that
characterize or mark a professional or a
professional person.“

 Professionalism is defined as the active

demonstration of the traits of a
professional.
Traits of Professionalism
 knowledge and skills of the profession,
 commitment to self-improvement of skills
 service orientation,
 pride in the profession,
 covenantal relationship with client,
 creativity and innovation,
 conscience and trustworthiness,
 accountability for his or her work,
 ethically sound decision making
 leadership.
 Characteristics
 Professionals are considered experts.
 Professionals have a high degree of generalized and systematic knowledge with
a theoretical base.
 The primary orientation of professionals is to their public and/or community
interest.
 Professionals have a high degree of self-control of their behavior and are
governed by a code of ethics.
 The code of ethics is a statement of values.
 The code ensures a high quality of service.
 The code guarantees competency of membership, honor and integrity.
 The code is a direct expression of the professions' principles of service
orientation.
 The code emphasizes no personal gain and protection of the client or patron.
 The professional's system of rewards is primarily a set of symbols of work
achievement.
 There is a system of testing the competence of members.

 
Criteria
 Training
 Intellectualism
 Autonomy
 Judgment
 Independence
 Service
 Pride
 Dedication
 Competencies

Mastery of Theoretical Capacity to Solve Application of Theoretical

Knowledge Problems Knowledge to Practice

Ability to Create Commitment to

Enthusiasm and
Knowledge as Well as Continuous Learning
Commitment to Clients
Possess It About the Profession
Expectations
 Professionals are expected to . . .  
 Establish a special relationship with
clients or patrons. Have a lack of self-
interest.
 Be involved in all aspects of the
profession.
 Publicize what the profession "does"
and "is."
  
Individual Responsibility
 Respect for others and their rights
 Know your boundaries/ limits
 Stay out of others affairs
 NO GOSSIP
 Do not handle personal interest at work
 Keep inappropriate language out of
workplace
 Regulate personal cell phone usage
Education
Becoming a professional involves...  
 Unique training
 Formal education
 Achieving credentials
 Activity in continuing education
opportunities
 Joining and actively involving yourself in
professional associations
Support
Professions have responsibilities to professionals.
 Professions create structures of subcultures for
professionals.
 Professions provide legal reinforcement for the
activities of professionals.
 Professions strive to provide environments of public
acceptance.
 Professions promote ethical practices.
 Professions define penalties for professionals who
work against the tenets and practices of the
profession.
Professional Boundaries
Relationships
Communications
Self disclosure
Exploitation
Breaches of Confidentiality
Why are boundaries important
 Communicate clearly
 All personnel information should be
kept strictly confidential
 Do not discuss co-worker with others
especially about health or health care.
 Do not feed into the office gossip
 "Nursing is an art, and, if it is to be made
an art, requires as exclusive a devotion, as
hard a preparation, as any painter’s or
sculptor’s work; for what is the having to do
with dead canvas or cold marble,
compared with having to do with the living
body- the temple of God’s spirit? It is one
of the fine Arts; I had almost said, the finest
of the Fine Arts" ~ Florence Nightingale
(1868
Reference
 http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=What_is_Professionalism_&Te
mplate=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=5414
 http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/tutorials/professionalism/issues.html
 http://www.goalsinstitute.com/what-is-professionalism.html