Professionalism
What kind of professional identity do you want to have?
Professional identity is defined as including both personal and professional development. It involves the internalization of core values and perspectives recognized as integral to the art and science of nursing. These core values have become self-evident as I have learned, gained experience, reflected, and grown in the profession. I have embraced the fundamental values into every aspect of my practice while working to improve patient outcomes and promote the ideals of the nursing profession. Integral to this outcome is my commitment to advocate for improved health care access and service delivery for vulnerable populations and to the growth and sustainability of the nursing profession.
Internalization of ethical codes of conduct is imperative. Therefore, I hold myself to high standards at all times when interacting with residents, families, co-workers, and the public. These standards mirror the standards set out by both the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). The CNO (2017) sets out the following ethical guidelines I strive to abide by:
as nurses, we must always maintain a respectful, collaborative, professional and therapeutic relationship with our clients and co-workers.
it is the responsibility of the nurse to maintain the appropriate professional boundaries.
if pictures are posted on social media that involve colleagues, consent must be obtained prior to posting.
Resident confidentiality must be maintained at all times. Resident information can only be discussed in appropriate locations with people who are within the circle of care or are the Power of Attorney.
Remember - anything posted on social media can and may be viewed by the public.
The RNAO supports the above statements and offers suggestions in addition to the above for posting on social media:
be mindful of what you are saying.
be honest, respectful and transparent in your comments.
ensure your comments add value to the conversation and that you stay engaged once you have entered into the conversation.
protect your privacy!
When id doubt, do not post.
What are your professional values?
Values are action oriented and give direction and meaning to one's life. Values are the starting points for morality and ethics. These three concepts of values, morals and ethics interact and relate to each other. Each person's morals and ethics develop over a lifetime and originate from life experiences and learned values through childhood. Therefore, values and morals are acquired from a variety of sources. Individual values indicate something of great importance and very often, something to defend (RNAO, n.d.). I believe that values are not static, that they help us navigate our lives on both a personal and professional level. Values are dynamic in that they change and develop through life.
My personal values include:
Caring for the residents in a way that promotes health and healing in a participative, person-centered approach.
Respecting the dignity and moral wholeness of every person without conditions or limitation. Showing integrity through transparency.
Affirming diversity through the uniqueness of and differences among all persons, ideas, and values regardless of age, race, ability, orientation, or beliefs.
Promoting a culture of excellence through a commitment to continuous growth and improvement. Embracing transformation and change and inspiring others to step out of the comfort zone of mediocrity.
Where do I fit in with the system?
Currently I am working in a long-term care home as an associate director of care. All nurses are trained to be leaders, and within this position I have the opportunity to encourage and engage my staff to be change leaders, and to move out of their comfort zones and step into the future. My staff are supported and encouraged to bring forth ideas and are valued for their contributions. When interacting with residents I treat them with the respect and dignity all people deserve, and how I would want to be treated if the situation were reversed.
http://www.cno.org/en/what-is-cno/ May 25, 2017
http://rnao.ca/