Professionalism 101

[lpnpgh123]

Professionalism 101

( I am omitting my real name)

Is professionalism an inherent trait, or is it something that should be taught in school? Does professionalism entail courtesy?

Professionalism is defined as " the competence or skill of a professional: the key to quality and efficiency is professionalism." (The New Oxford American Dictionary.) Based on this definition, courtesy is not included in this definition.However, courtesy goes a long way to improve professionalism. One can have the skills to perform a task, but lack common courtesy, and therefore appear unprofessional.

No matter what industry one decides to pursue a career in, there are many things that can transcend industry barriers to promote professionalism. Whether you work in Finance, Healthcare, Restaurant, Retail, or any other industry, there are several steps you can take to ensure that you appear professional.

1. DO NOT badmouth your co-workers. Whether done publicly or privately to other co-workers, bad-mouthing fellow co-workers is not a good idea. It should not be done within earshot of other employees, and it especially should not not be done within earshot of clients/customers/ patients, etc. It is never appropriate to belittle someone's education level or skill level. This is even more important to not bash the new employee who is doing all they canto learn the ropes of their new position. Badmouthing your co-workers sends a negative message. It does not foster teamwork. And it can be intimidating. It is also not appropriate to bad-mouth your manager. If you have an issue with a coworker, take them aside and discuss it privately.

2. DO NOT HIDE. Literally. Do not hide in an exam room/kitchen/supply closet, etc to give the appearance that you are busy and inaccessible, while your co-workers are picking up the slack.

3. DO NOT undermine your co-workers. Everyone has something to bring to the table. Also, see rule number 1, above, as that is also a form of undermining.

4. DO watch your body language and tone of voice. Recently, I have had the unpleasant experience of dealing with co-workers that spoke to me like a defiant teenager. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of dealing with teenagers of your own,I encourage you to remember how you treated your parents when you were one. The tone of voice, the eye rolls, the hands on the hips,the walking away while being spoken to... this behavior also does not send a positive professional image. Conflict is not my strong suit,so this was especially difficult, because, personally, I wanted to throttle this person(s), however, I also had to maintain a professional image, so there was little I could do.

5. DO have the ability to accept direction, suggestions, and constructive criticism. Sometimes,there are more than one way to do things. Sometimes, there are not.But instead of saying," This is the way we've always done things, " be open to discussion.

6. DO follow proper dress code and maintain proper personal hygiene. Do not appear disheveled or frumpy.

7. DO NOT make inappropriate jokes about clients/patients/customers (gallows humor) or about co-workers (blatant disrespect, intimidation).

8. DO NOT have inappropriate conversations such as sex, bodily functions, partying, "hooking-up," etc at work. Work is not the place for these types of discussions.

I have worked in healthcare for a long time. It seems like some of these behaviors are running rampant. Are there any other industries where these types of behaviors are acceptable? What are your thoughts?

[The_Optimist]

If I feel you might criticize me and my way of doing things, I won't volunteer to help because I might get criticized for x, y, or z (all those decisions that are in the nursing gray zone- acceptable one way or the other but different based on your logic). I might hide from you if I need to get my work done and you are harping on me that we cannot ever pass a call light (and it is that lady that is confused and puts on her call light 100 times an hour and it is not even your patient).

Disheveled or frumpy? That is my everyday look- I roll out of bed at o dark thirty and throw on clean but not ironed scrubs put my hair into a pony tail and maybe a dash of make up.

You find what you look for. You are looking for some ideal perfection and you are working with imperfect people. We are not Florence Nightengale. My whites aren't white and starched and my hat is crooked. Am I professional? You bet your stethoscope I am. People want to work with me- you need to do what it takes to make your coworkers (and patients) look forward to your arrival at work.

Just so wrong on many levels; "Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality".

And that makes it okay?

[The_Optimist]

Believe me, I am not above anything or anyone, and I certainly don't give off that vibe. I am the newbie to my department... not a new nurse, not new to healthcare, but new to my department. I am willing to help anyone do anything. And I take initiative to do things, too. But the people I work with make it clear that they have a chip on their shoulders. I'm starting to feel like it is a hostile enviornment. Believe me , I have thick skin , and I don't take things personally. I get that work can't always be a utopia. But this is crazy. I am trying to find something else that might be a little better fit. Unfortunately, that process takes time.

The outsider with new eyes usually sees things clearer than the veterans that have been going at it for so long. But putting it across to your colleagues if the tricky part, "It is not what you say but how you say it".

Find a way and then tackle it...gently.

[T-Bird78]

I see the point the OP is making. In fact, I wish a coworker of mine could read it! She's one to hide in an empty room, reading a magazine, while I'm running amok (I'll glance in the room she's hiding in and see her sitting there as I'm going down the hall) and refuses to be flexible. She also wont' wear scrub tops, instead wears oversize T-shirts. And when I saw that a sharps container was overflowing and the manager saw it and told her to change it (needles were literally sticking out of the top), she got mad and stomped off while muttering that I was supposed to change it out (never mind the fact it was in her area, not my area, and I saw it from across the room and mentioned it to her on my way through). Gotta love the helpful ones!