The Requirement and Concept of Professionalism - Essay Example

The Requirement and Concept of Professionalism Professionalism is a requirement and concept that pervades all areas of practice, and is more critical in clinical practice because it determines outcomes such as satisfaction, length of admission period and improvement of health conditions. Martimianakis, Jerry and Brian (829), state that professionalism incorporates elements of various social, economic and political dimensions. As such, it should be reviewed from an all-rounded perspective so as to develop a comprehensive understanding of professionalism and its application. The vast nature of the concept makes it definition rather challenging, and developing a comprehensive explanation may not be explicit for all situations. However, according to Vener (1780), professionalism can loosely be defined as the skills and competence required or held by a person regarded as professional. It is thus a status of practice capability (Vener 1780). In order to comprehensively understand the concept, there is only one effective way to use, and that is to understand the attributes that constitute professionalism. The desirable attributes include altruism, honesty, compassion, accountability, social responsibility, the ability to read and communicate effectively as well as dress and act appropriately-just to mention, but a few (Vickie 131). It is the integration of such attributes and many other desirable attributes that create the aura of professionalism that practitioners and institutions should posses so as to guarantee improved healthcare outcomes. This paper reviews my research study period, and how the events of the period and involved people displayed professionalism in practice. Preliminary Observation Working on the morning shift greatly differed in the facility from what I had observed on night shifts. The night shifts were busier and everyone was either in a hurry to prepare the patient room for the next coming patient or preparing already admitted expectant mothers for delivery. I arrived at the facility at 7.00 a.m. and waited for Mrs. Susan, who is the obstetric patient safety nurse, and she arrived at around 8.00 a.m. Upon her arrival, we went through the observation tool that I had created for the study with additional help from Carey. This was in line with the professional need to align the study tool the study goals and objectives so as to achieve informative outcomes that would inform better practice. After a three-hour review we all decided to have the tool completed prior to 11th December. The earlier completion was meant to help me have more time working within the unit, and have greater access to more cases that would inform my study. After the review I met the morning shift staff so as to familiarize them with my study within their unit because I would have to work with them. During this initial visit an interesting observation related to my study emerged when Mrs. Susan interrogated some operation room nurses about the checklist posted in the operation room. Surprisingly, the nurses in the unit were completely unaware of the checklist, and this was a surprising display of deficiency in professionalism. The checklists are meant to enhance patient safety by reducing medication errors (Gawande 72). Therefore, the fact that the nurses in the unit were oblivious of the fact that there was a checklist, indicates that there was a deficiency in professionalism. This fails to fulfill the professional attribute of being aware and proficient of practice requirements. This discovery proved that my study was essential for the unit so as to bring about greater awareness on such essential practice tools and issues, which could help improve care in the unit. According to Southon and Jeffrey (23), it is the lack professionalism such as the one displayed in the unit that led to decline of positive healthcare outcomes, and further decline of professional practice within most healthcare set up. Therefore, there is a need to inform practitioners on the need to change their professional approach to practice. In most of my time within the unit I worked with Mrs. Susan and Carlotta-Puryear within the gynecology/obstetric unit. Mrs. Susan made arrangements for me to attend cesarean birth cases, which would inform my study through the determination of differences in each case conducted by the same team. Unfortunately, the number of cases within this period was limited. In addition to attending the few cases that were handled, I used the rest of my time in the nursing administration office where I had to work on my power point presentation meant to introduce my study to the nursing staff. During this period, Mrs. Susan attended professional meetings, but I was unable to join her because she was not my preceptor. Her offered support was only related to my study, which was aimed at developing evidence that would support practice. I also made a few visits in the unit and spent a few hours to build confidence and enhance familiarity both of which would support my study undertakings. Professionalism and Expertise in the clinical set up My observation revealed that despite the deficiency in the unit, Susan being a CNS, tried to gradually apply the checklist use within the operation room. The process was slowly taking root even though the preliminary review had shown that most nurses were unaware of the presence and use of the checklist. This was a good display of the professional attribute of imparting positive influence (Vickie 132). This was also a necessary process in the slow changing movement towards increasing transparency in care and focus on addressing system dysfunction so as to improve patient safety (Hamric, Spross & Hanson 83). Leadership During the study period I noticed that in spite of the deficiencies, Susan offered better leadership, which portrayed significant professionalism. Mrs. Susan talks to her staff in a manner that is empowering. Her communication was always geared towards encouraging them to change their old habits and start gradually using new technique through talking, explaining and using the phrase” we” that encourages the staff to be excited about the new things. This also gave me an indication that she has the talent of leadership, which is part of the positive attribute of professionalism that entails to positively influencing others. Hamric et al. (47), defines a good leader as follows: “Good leader is able to encourage a shared workload that recognize the talents and abilities of follow.” A review of this definition and my observation led me to a conclusion that Mrs. Susan portrayed good leadership for the unit and this would promise to change the unit for the better, especially; after my findings would be implemented. Change facilitation/agent Mrs. Susan provides the necessary change agent as a positive influence for the unit because she works with JHH to improve patient safety (Vickie 131). The change that Susan wants occurs to initiate both at the organization and the personal level is promising in terms of improving professionalism within the unit. I did not spend much time with her, but I figured out her aim behind the position and found that she would be a significant change agent that would positively impact practice. Self evaluation I was very excited about the fact that my project was the first of its kind within the unit, and therefore, was bound to bring about positive changes on the identified deficiencies with regard to professionalism. Mrs. Susan and Carey were also very helpful in terms of developing my observation tool, and this was a true display of professionalism, whose main aim is to foster evidence-based practice developed through studies such as the one I planned to implement. The preparation of the study was without hitches. However, I had one big challenge, which entailed the fact that the cases to be observed were not adequate to conclude study in the initial three weeks and I had to extend my waiting period so as to get sufficient cases that would provide sufficient information for analysis. In the meantime, I used the waiting period to further develop my power point, which would serve as an introduction of my study to the unit. Summary The study period and preparation were very enlightening. One of the most important things learned was the fact that enhancement of awareness among practitioners and patient population was very important in improving healthcare outcomes. The loss of my aunt in past week to cancer has made me even more compelled to facilitate the development of awareness on cancer among the general population. I deem this as part of my professional call, which not only entails attending to patients, but also informing and educating the healthy population so as to avert preventable conditions. Unlike in the past where there was limited information on cancer, currently, there is sufficient information to help in preventing the condition. I feel obliged to be part of the cancer advocacy efforts because it is part of my professional call. In order to attain this endeavor, I need to develop my understanding of cultural beliefs and personal behavior, which are important in influencing health outcomes. In a nutshell, the whole period and experiences acquired taught me the essence of upholding professionalism and its requirements so as to improve healthcare outcomes. Works Cited Gawande, A. The checklist manifesto: How to get things right. London, UK: Profile Books, 2010. Print. Hamric, A. B., Spross, J. A., & Hanson, C. M. Advanced nursing practice: An integrative approach. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 2000. Print. Martimianakis, M. A. Jerry. M. M. & Brian, D. H. “Sociological interpretations of professionalism.” Medical Education, 43.1 (2009): 829–837 Southon, G. and Jeffrey, B. “The End of Professionalism?” Social Science and Medicine, 46.1 (1998): 23-28 Vener, D. Taber’s Cyclopaedic Medical Dictionary. 20th edition, Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis Company. 2001. Print. Vickie, A. “Professionalism.” Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 30.2 (2011): 131-132 Yarbro, C., Wujcik, D., & Barbara, H. Cancer nursing: Principles and practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010. 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