Professionalism among Radiotherapists - Essay Example

? Professionalism among Radiotherapists Professionalism among Radiotherapists There are several regulations, protocols, standards, codes of conduct, and ethics that provide parameters for ethical and safe medical practice. Some of the areas of professionalism such as substance abuse, racism and theft are framed by the law and are subject to criminal action. The purpose of these rules is to provide guidelines for minimum standards of practice and provide sanctions where practice is below expectations. Professionalism can be gauged in adherence to practice ethics, interactions with patients and staff, and reliability and commitment to improvement. Professional behaviors are considered an expression of professional attitudes. Observable behaviors such as good communication, empathy, and meeting practice expectations are a reflection of professional attitude. Medical practitioners dealing with radiotherapy require high levels of professionalism and professional attitudes when dealing with patients, family, and other team members. The paper utilizes the Gibbs reflective model to reflect on professionalism among radiotherapists. Description Ionizing radiation is used in radiotherapy to diagnose diseases and treat conditions such as cancer and malignant wounds (Wickline, 2004). During the placement period, I was part of the radiotherapy team. For example, using radiotherapy to treat breast cancer was part of our practice. My assignment involved providing assistance to the radiotherapist as he conducted diagnosis and treatment. Physical appearance such as dressing is part of professional expectations. Medical practitioners have a predefined grooming code that applies when they are within healthcare facilities (Papadakis et al, 2004). Team members have to follow the dress code for radiotherapists as a way of portraying a professional image. In this regard, uniform helps service users and clients identify the role of health care providers. It is a means of portraying different professional images to colleagues and patients and places significant emphasis on appearance. The supervisor rated students in terms of appearance, relationship with others, communication, and behavior within the medical facility. Feelings Family members of patients undergoing breast cancer treatment after mastectomy were sometimes overwhelmed with emotions. The patients also had to cope with difficult situations after undergoing surgery. Malignant wounds, cancer, and ulcerating wounds have emotional and psychological effects on patients and families. Patients experience social isolation at a time when they need time with family and friends (Faithfull and Wells, 2003; Hamilton, Kipping and Mcleod, 2003). Patients undergoing radiotherapy may remain hospitalized for a long time, which creates separation from their families. Patients also require emotional or psychological support from care givers similar to that accorded by family members (Papadakis et al, 2008). This support speeds up the recovery process and eliminates opportunistic problems such as stress and depression. Listening to the worries of the patient and providing emotional support was part of the activities of the radiotherapy team. We were supposed to empathize with the patients in order to help them overcome their fears and reduce the emotional trouble. Putting the patient’s interests first and maintaining high standards of care constitutes competence and professional attitude towards the patient (Papadakis et al, 2008). Evaluation Appearance such as cleanliness, hygiene, and clothing is necessary for the public perception of professionalism (Rakel and Faass, 2006). For example, physical appearance creates the first impression on clients and determines the respect and confidence accorded to the doctor. Among practitioners, awareness to limitation of knowledge and skills is essential for good practice and professionalism (Chamberlain, Catano, and Cunningham, 2005). For example, radiotherapists were sometimes faced with difficult cases that required consultations and team discussion in order to find a comprehensive treatment procedure. Most health care facilities have several professionals at their disposal and consulting in areas of limited knowledge is part of professional attitude (Rakel and Faass, 2006). The effectiveness of the team lay on members who recognized and appreciated the limitations of their knowledge and skills. This opened room for highly skilled practitioners to take charge of the treatment or diagnosis procedure. For instance, expectant women required specialized care to limit exposure to the developing fetus in order to reduce complications due to radiation exposure. Consulting other professionals in such cases was essential for safeguarding the health condition of the fetus and the mother. Analysis Attitudes in medical practice are also expressed in willingness to respect patients, colleagues, and service users (Swisher and Page, 2005). Being prepared for the job is part of professional attitude and reflects how a practitioner relates with other people (Joyce et al, 2009). Attitude is necessary for elucidating enthusiasm and patient relations that are supportive and encouraging (Joyce et al, 2009). Job preparedness in radiotherapy is important for avoiding mistakes that can have dire consequences on the patient’s health. Preparedness for the procedures of the day determines presentation and attitude towards patients and team members. For instance, some practitioners reported for work with hangovers from the activities of the previous night. This led to sluggishness in their work and hampered the relationship with patients and fellow practitioners. The affected members were not prepared for the activities of the day. This displayed a negative attitude and unprofessional behavior among health providers. Aspects of communication such as politeness, trustworthiness, honesty, and confidentiality are part of professional conduct (Hilton, and Slotnick, 2005). Patients expect the doctor to treat information confidentially as part of the professional practice. Doctors had to share patient information during the treatment period with involved parties confidentially. Professional communication also included the use of language that could be understood by patients and their families. This involved avoiding technical medical terminologies when explaining medical conditions to patients and family members. This was important for mutual understanding and effective communication. These behaviors determined the relationship with patients and their response to patient care. A radiotherapist required strong communication skills and equal treatment for family members as a way of providing support and depicting professional attitude. Conclusion Radiotherapy is a process that creates emotional and psychological pressure on patients, physicians and family members. Professional attitude and presentation are crucial when dealing with patients and other practitioners in the team. Dressing appropriately is crucial for professional identification and helps form a good first impression on patients. Relationship between the patient and practitioner is determined by factors such as communication, confidentiality, respect, and empathy. Patients undergoing radiotherapy are faced with emotional and physical complications and require the emotional support from the practitioner. Being supportive in such moments improves patient response to healthcare and expresses professional attitude. Action plan In future, I will ensure that I maintain a good professional image in terms of appearance and preparedness for the job. Improving my communication skills will improve understanding between patients and colleagues. Communication is important for creating a good relationship with the patient. Treating patient information is necessary to retain the respect of the patients and make them feel relaxed and confident when visiting the hospital. Maintaining courtesy and politeness will be necessary when interacting with fellow practitioners especially during consultation. Preparedness will be the first priority when I start my career since it determines the quality of services provided and will help avoid mistakes that can endanger the lives of my patients. References Chamberlain, T., Catano, V.M. and Cunningham, D.P 2005. 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