Patient outcomes are heavily dependent on the quality of care provided - that’s obvious, right? But how do healthcare staff ensure they are adopting best practices and upholding the standard of professionalism needed to support patients effectively? In this blog, we look at what it means to be professional, as well as how to maintain a positive reputation as a nurse.
What is professionalism?
The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) defines professionalism as being characterised by “the autonomous evidence-based decision making by members of an occupation who share the same values and education.”
In the world of nursing, this means building meaningful relationships, creating safe environments and taking accountability for your actions. The main aim of professionalism is to achieve “an optimal status of health and wellbeing” for people and their families.
How do I maintain professionalism?
According to the code of professional standards of practice, the following attributes are essential to maintaining professionalism as a nurse:
People-centred approach
Priotising others is a big part of nursing and to do so sucessfully you need to be compassionate, resilient and emotionally intelligent. Advocagting the safety and wellbeing of patients is also key here.
Taking accountablity
This means practising safely and effectively by making evidence based decisions and challenging poor practice. Individuals should also have the ability to reflect and learn from past practice in order to implement positive change going forward.
Leadership skills
Being a nurse means being a leader who promotes professionalism and trust. Innovation, honesty and autonomy are all primary factors in this.
Competence
Preserving your patentients’ safety should always be a top priority. In order to do so, you should be technically competent, as well as being a confident critical thinker who isn’t afraid to ask questions in times of uncertainty.
We hope this blog served useful as a reminder of how you can continue to support professional practice and behaviours in the workplace.
For further career advice, visit our blog page or give our consultants a call on 0203 929 4010.
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