Professionalism is the adherence to a set of behavioral standards, including elements such as attitude, accountability, and respect in one’s work or interactions. Professional conduct involves following employer policies and guidelines, such as being on time, fulfilling work duties efficiently, and managing patient information appropriately.

Another way to think of professionalism is as the practice of devoting your energy and attention to your profession while at work. This can mean sharing the same goals as patients and their families, such as helping them recover or restore their health. Additionally, professionalism can involve supporting the mission of the organization, such as providing justice, compassion, and equitable care for all individuals.

To achieve a level of professionalism that makes a lasting impact on patients, individuals might often need to incorporate certain values and traits into their work. These might include trustworthiness, respect, accountability, responsibility, and a service-oriented mindset. A healthcare professional must also uphold personal values and ethical behavior, such as integrity and self-regulation. This means doing what is right because it benefits the patient, not just because someone is watching or holding you accountable.

Other desirable traits include taking initiative and being self-motivated. Look for tasks to complete, ways to help your team, research information, or review policies before asking questions to be well informed. Your behavior should reflect well on yourself, your team, your organization, and your profession.

Attributions

1. Figure 11.1: image released under the Pexels License