The Influence Of Professional Identity
Professional identity is the way how an individual operates and expresses themselves through a professional practice. It is “created through one’s beliefs and attitudes, values, motives and experiences through which individuals define themselves in their current professional life”. (Jane Tsakissiris. 2015, p. 3) Rules and regulations (codes of conduct) may guide and influence individuals to behave in a particular manner that is standard for a professional career. The simple acts of dressing presentably, being etiquette, communicating appropriately and keeping a healthy relationship between professionals and patients, is greatly needed for a professional to create a coherent and well-respected image. According to lecturer Heather Horgan, “professionalism
in health care shapes the public’s perceptions of today's healthcare systems… and keeps patients satisfied ”. (Heather Hogan, 2012) The public depends and trusts healthcare workers to provide patients with the correct information and treatment on their health. Abusing the trust through confidentiality or providing the incorrect information to patients, will consequently damage the health organisation or professional’s reputation and career. Furthermore, the University of Toronto conducted a survey in 2001 that focused on “Understanding the clinical dilemmas that shape medical student’s ethical development”. The results collected from the survey demonstrated that approximately sixty-one percent of the patients had witnessed a clinical worker acting unethically. This high percentage of results concluded that many health practitioners were abusing their professional identity. Factors like greed, misuses of services like over charging, sexual harassment and countless more, were the main contributions. Therefore, healthcare workers need to maintain a professional identity in order to treat patients. Abusing the identity will result in the loss of trust and respect from patients and a damage reputation, which can further give the healthcare system a negative status.
in health care shapes the public’s perceptions of today's healthcare systems… and keeps patients satisfied ”. (Heather Hogan, 2012) The public depends and trusts healthcare workers to provide patients with the correct information and treatment on their health. Abusing the trust through confidentiality or providing the incorrect information to patients, will consequently damage the health organisation or professional’s reputation and career. Furthermore, the University of Toronto conducted a survey in 2001 that focused on “Understanding the clinical dilemmas that shape medical student’s ethical development”. The results collected from the survey demonstrated that approximately sixty-one percent of the patients had witnessed a clinical worker acting unethically. This high percentage of results concluded that many health practitioners were abusing their professional identity. Factors like greed, misuses of services like over charging, sexual harassment and countless more, were the main contributions. Therefore, healthcare workers need to maintain a professional identity in order to treat patients. Abusing the identity will result in the loss of trust and respect from patients and a damage reputation, which can further give the healthcare system a negative status.