can understand. Being a professional means you have to put time into learning about your field of expertise, and you need to be able to communicate with others about your profession. Respect plays a role in professionalism because you need to treat others in a way that shows your are capable of what you are doing, but that you are also able to listen to advice. Relationships between a subordinate and a boss, between co-workers, and between people outside your field have to maintain a respectful balance that makes working with each other possible. A professional is able to find that balance, while showing they are the person for the job. Another aspect of what being a professional means to me is working efficiently. I believe someone who is competent in their profession is able to work a at speed that is best for the people they are working for. This doesn't mean rush everyone in and out the door, but you should be able to perform the tasks that are within your scope of practice in a reasonable amount of time. Before you begin any task, look over what you are doing so that when you bring in your patient or customer you can perform your duties in a cool, calm, and composed manner. The last quality that I seek in a professional is the ability to work with others. When I see a professional in my mind, I see a person leading a team, working with others, and being able to help anyone with no prejudice against gender, race, age, or religion. For instance, I have a story that describes perfectly what a professional is. At one of my clinical sites I had an transsexual person come in for an abdominal x-ray.
Before I went with the technologist to get the patient, we set up the room and lied out a pair of shorts for the patient. As the technologist called out the name, which was gender neutral, we got confused as the patient stood up and said that that was them. Our requisition said the patient was a male, but this person clearly was dressed as a woman with make-up and long high-lighted hair. We took the patient back to the room and doubled verified using the date of birth. Yes, this what our patient, but how were we going to ask about pregnancy or shielding? The technologist I was with acted in a completely professional manner. This person didn't make the patient feel uncomfortable, they reacted in way that made the patient feel completely normal and safe. The technologist was very professional in asking about if they had undergone any surgeries and the patient replied with no. The technologist then asked the patient if they would prefer shorts or a gown, the patient chose a gown, and the procedure continued perfectly from there. I believe professionalism is truly about how you act in tough, difficult, and sticky situations. The technologist had the patient answer a general question that we ask everyone without making them feel as though we were prying into their life. A professional knows what to do, what questions to ask, and to be able to get it done alone or with the help of
others.