Whatever "professionalism" is, it's driving me nuts.

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My nursing preceptor gave me an article on professionalism from a nursing periodical yesterday on our previous shift (hint, hint) and added that it's something everybody should read. Ok, so I read it:

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"7 tips to improve your professional etiquette." - OR Nurse, March 2010

1. Introduce yourself. You won't feel awkward during conversations if you're already ready to introduce yourself. Don't just stand next to someone waiting to be introduced. Be ready to introduce colleagues as well. (How can these last 2 sentences co-exist?)

2. Have a confident handshake. Take into consideration cultural preferences and sensitivities. (Huh? They're in your house. When in Rome...)

3. Keep conversations on track. Stay away from controversial topics. (Why are you assuming I'm naturally tactless, an empty bucket needing to be filled with your "tips" ?)

4. Watch your body language. Stand tall, with your shoulders back. Don't put your hands on your hips or cross them over your chest. (Then what am I supposed to do with them?)

5. Cultivate a positive work environment. Be polite and courteous to your colleagues. (So THAT'S what I've been forgetting to do!)

6. Dress for success. (Especially in nursing, when you may get blood, vomit or feces on your clothing at any given moment with the patient.)

7. Present a positive, professional image. (Don't use the term to define the term.)

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The thing is, what my preceptor calls "professionalism" is what I call phony, glib, and an overall a disrespect to my presence. If you honestly feel pleased to meet somebody, then people wouldn't be writing "tips" on how to overcompensate.

Does this article, summarized by these tips, send the right message of what "professionalism" is? Are they missing the point, or am I missing the point??

Specializes in Pediatric, Psych, School.

OK...I hear your frustration. I know many smart, clinically strong nurses who feel like you. What they are missing, one may call professionalism, another may call good customer service. Nursing is a professional service, the patients are our customers, and if you want your employer to do well--which means you still having a paycheck--you need to keep the bigger picture in mind. All the complaints people frequently have about docs--uncaring attitude, no personality, distance, arrogance, etc.--is all about bad customer service and bad employee relations. Nursing and med school forget to teach basic business skills, and it's unfortunate for everyone, including the patients.

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my nursing preceptor gave me an article on professionalism from a nursing periodical yesterday on our previous shift (hint, hint) and added that it's something everybody should read. ok, so i read it:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"7 tips to improve your professional etiquette." - or nurse, march 2010

1. introduce yourself. you won't feel awkward during conversations if you're already ready to introduce yourself. don't just stand next to someone waiting to be introduced. be ready to introduce colleagues as well. (how can these last 2 sentences co-exist?)

2. have a confident handshake. take into consideration cultural preferences and sensitivities. (huh? they're in your house. when in rome...)

first, i ask them their about their culture. i then go to my lippincott manual of cultural etiquette. i then write a nursing care plan. after several hours, i am able to shake their hand properly.

3. keep conversations on track. stay away from controversial topics. (why are you assuming i'm naturally tactless, an empty bucket needing to be filled with your "tips" ?)

we should go to the horse races to have a conversation? yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa. if i understand this properly, i should introduce myself and relay my name followed by, "i am a staunch conservative. you can recognize my car by the rebel flag painted on the hood. wanna see my tattoo, mam?"

4. watch your body language. stand tall, with your shoulders back. don't put your hands on your hips or cross them over your chest. (then what am i supposed to do with them?)

i like to apply my scrubs over my arms to appear as a bilateral upper extremities amputee. i then do head butts.

5. cultivate a positive work environment. be polite and courteous to your colleagues. (so that's what i've been forgetting to do!)

darn, i thought we cultivated corn and dark fired tobacco.

6. dress for success. (especially in nursing, when you may get blood, vomit or feces on your clothing at any given moment with the patient.)

i do!!!! i buy most of suit scrubs from joseph a. banks. on meeting day, it is my tuxedo with my rebel flag bow tie, white shoes and a matching hat/cane. i am one sharp dude.

7. present a positive, professional image. (don't use the term to define the term.)

i think i could be a tad more positive. it could be that during a given shift, i am responsible for recognizing subtle signs of a fib and document it....don't worry that he is seeing a dozen cardiologists to fix his problem. upon return for the following shift, i find a note that informs me i failed to document a 30 second episode and they found mr. jones with a dirty butt.

and for all of those who harped on the originator of this thread.... lighten up... geeeesh.

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the thing is, what my preceptor calls "professionalism" is what i call phony, glib, and an overall a disrespect to my presence. if you honestly feel pleased to meet somebody, then people wouldn't be writing "tips" on how to overcompensate.

does this article, summarized by these tips, send the right message of what "professionalism" is? are they missing the point, or am i missing the point??

see my responses underlined in the quoted message

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

@Mike

LOL!!

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Specializes in Psych.

It's understandable to me from the situations the OP described with the userid and the tubing why the preceptor has identified professionalism as an area for growth and improvement. From the way the scenarios were framed and the OPs description of her thoughts, it screams to me "lack of ownership" for her role in the situations.

Re: The userid. If you're logged into the computer, log off when you're done. If you're logged in and you want to step aside to allow someone to log in, just say, "I'm logging out now" and do it.

Re: The tubing. Breaking sterility IS a big deal. Replace the "so what...I'll walk 20 feet to get more" thinking with "I'll be mindful about this going forward so it doesn't happen again."

I think the preceptor wants you to kick it up a notch when it comes to working efficiently and doing things right the first time.

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Specializes in critical care.

Sounds like you met a doc who didn't get the professionalism record. SOund like she may hve gone to the same school as the author of this thread.

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Specializes in critical care.

You are missing the point big time. The post below speaks volumes. There seems to be total lack of education in nursing and med schools about customer service, marketing and general business etiquite.

Have you ever been to WAlmart??? If those people can be polite and greet customers politely at minimum wage, is it too much to ask a nurse to do the same.

Do you think the kid working in Disney World in a hot costume really thinks your kids are cute??? Is that acting, is it phoney... ? I don't know or care. If I am buying a product I want to be treated with respect. If I give you the care of my mother, I want her treated with dignety and respect. If I am a jerk, say so in the break rooom, but do not disrespect me. If that is somehow degrading to your self-esteem, you are in the wrong profession.

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Specializes in critical care.

If you and she are too at odds, perhaps another preceptor would work out better. However, your tone seem to convey that you need to take a good look at how you present yourself and your practice.

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Its you.

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You are taking this too personally! Nurses have a professional IMAGE to convey in order to do their jobs well, and the guidelines you were given are general ones that across the board will communicate to all patients your level of education.

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Specializes in Health Information Management.
Slightly offended, but more irritated because I know my preceptor and I don't care for each other (she's entirely Type A, everything done a certain way, etc. and I'm hardly one to rush or freak out). Thus, I think she's missing the point: she excels at professionalism but fails at being respectful and encouraging. Her tone is pleasant when things are smooth, patronizing and quick to chastise when there's a speedbump. (e.g. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? The tubing touched the ground - now I have to get more tubing!") Yeah, ok, I'll just walk 20 feet and grab some new tubing. It wasn't worth the tone. The list goes on.

So part of why "professionalism" and my preceptor's gesture drives me nuts and makes me defensive and irritated is because I don't think professionalism gets "it". I'm pretty much beaten into apathy. It's annoying.

I guess the whole issue in my mind is that between your original post and this one, there are some troubling notes in your attitude and the thoughts you express that your preceptor may be trying to address. You don't seem to really think you need to improve your behavior towards others. You should be ready to rush when others, especially your preceptor, need you to do so. It's her job to correct you and to help you to understand that things you apparently consider to be "speedbumps" are significant issues that most assuredly aren't beneath your notice (i.e., unnecessary waste of medical supplies). It's also disturbing that you believe patients and their family members are in "your house," and should therefore adapt to your beliefs (or the prevailing ones) regarding handshakes. The facility is the temporary home of every patient; patients and their family members are entitled to have their cultural boundaries respected whenever possible while there.

Being professional means being polite and respectful, even when you find a patient annoying or you want to throttle a co-worker. That's the case in any sort of job, especially a service positions. It doesn't mean you can't disagree with someone or be firm when discussing an issue. There are ways to make your concern or displeasure known without being crass or rude, and it sounds as though your preceptor is using some of those ways to let you know there are issues with your attitude. As others have noted, she is at least working with you to help you improve, rather than simply writing you off as a lost cause.

Please understand that I'm not saying this to condemn you or to imply that you're a bad person or anything like that. I think a lot of people come out of school convinced they know it all and don't need any help or correction. I know I did when I was in my early 20s. And while there are some forms of professionalism that may seem fake, it's really all about respect for others and self-discipline (meaning your attitude and comments never reflect any negative thoughts unless you specifically want them to come through). You aren't being phony or glib by being professional; you're simply being respectful to others.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
My nursing preceptor gave me an article on professionalism from a nursing periodical yesterday on our previous shift (hint, hint) and added that it's something everybody should read. Ok, so I read it:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"7 tips to improve your professional etiquette." - OR Nurse, March 2010

1. Introduce yourself. You won't feel awkward during conversations if you're already ready to introduce yourself. Don't just stand next to someone waiting to be introduced. Be ready to introduce colleagues as well. (How can these last 2 sentences co-exist?)

2. Have a confident handshake. Take into consideration cultural preferences and sensitivities. (Huh? They're in your house. When in Rome...)

3. Keep conversations on track. Stay away from controversial topics. (Why are you assuming I'm naturally tactless, an empty bucket needing to be filled with your "tips" ?)

4. Watch your body language. Stand tall, with your shoulders back. Don't put your hands on your hips or cross them over your chest. (Then what am I supposed to do with them?)

5. Cultivate a positive work environment. Be polite and courteous to your colleagues. (So THAT'S what I've been forgetting to do!)

6. Dress for success. (Especially in nursing, when you may get blood, vomit or feces on your clothing at any given moment with the patient.)

7. Present a positive, professional image. (Don't use the term to define the term.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The thing is, what my preceptor calls "professionalism" is what I call phony, glib, and an overall a disrespect to my presence. If you honestly feel pleased to meet somebody, then people wouldn't be writing "tips" on how to overcompensate.

Does this article, summarized by these tips, send the right message of what "professionalism" is? Are they missing the point, or am I missing the point??

Just a bit less sarcasm might get you some of the positive/helpful criticisms you need. Think very hard before submitting a post about this topic nex time. :uhoh3:;):twocents::o:cool::smokin:

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Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.

It's okay that things are "driving you nuts", however don't let anyone see you being driven. You must drive or be driven. Passive aggression has it's bonuses.

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