ONS Connect - April 2008 - (Page 19)

STRAIghTTALk Maintain Professionalism in Your Daily Nursing Practice [By camille A. servodidio, RN, MPH, CRNO, OCN ®, CCRP, Contributing Editor] I n a 2007 USA Today/Gallup poll, nurses topped the list regarding public perception of honesty and ethics, scoring higher than any other healthcare professional in the United States (Jones, 2007). These results allude that our patients or “clients,” nursing colleagues, physicians, fellow healthcare team members, friends, neighbors, and community members hold the profession of nursing in high esteem and constantly observe nurses’ behavior. As nursing professionals, we need to hold ourselves accountable to this gold standard by treating others with kindness, dignity, and respect. Nurses should always choose to behave in a courteous and professional manner. One survey of experienced nurses reported that grooming professional nurses should begin at the student level and that students should understand the expected responsibilities and opportunities while they are in school (Brockopp et al., 2003). Another study showed that professionalism was related significantly to years of experience as an RN, higher educational degrees in nursing, membership in organizations, service as an officer in such organizations, and specialty certification (Wynd, 2003). How can you enhance your professionalism in nursing? • Arrive to work on time, and be clean, neat, and ready to work. A nurse’s appearance, actions, and attitude display how he or she feels about the profession. How we behave and represent ourselves can determine how others perceive us. Watch what is said and where it is said. • Maintain open communication, and • • • • • help to create an atmosphere where team members can openly express their opinions without criticizing one another. Put aside personal issues to improve patient care. When sending e-mail, be brief, be bright, and be gone. Make it a point to care about grammar and correctness. Avoid clichés. Proofread everything you write, and hesitate before clicking the send button. If you are in a leadership position, empower others and take people with you for achieving departmental and/or organizational goals. Know your boss, treat him or her with respect, and respect the office, even if you don’t respect the person who sits in it. If you work in nursing education, develop healthcare curricula that include interdisciplinary learning opportunities that enhance professionalism. Although gossip may make people feel better, it can hide underlying sources of conflict and vulnerability and intensify emotions. Be mindful of what you say. Be self-sufficient with a “can do” at- titude. Find meaning in your work, take care of yourself, be flexible, and be willing to try new things. As one professional nursing leader stated, “When we pursue our role with passion, character, and integrity, we will influence future generations” (Burlew, 2004). ✱ Brockopp, D., Schooler, M., Welsh, D., Cassidy, K., Ryan, P.Y., Mueggenberg, K., et al. (2003). Journal of Nursing Education, 42(12), 562–564. Burlew, J.A. (2004). Pursuing passionate professionalism: The journey of one ophthalmic nurse. Part 2. Insight, 29(1), 8–10. Jones, J. (2007). Lobbyists debut at bottom of honesty and ethics list. Retrieved February 20, 2008, from http://www.gallup.com/poll/103123/ Lobbyists-Debut-Bottom-Honesty-Ethics-List .aspx Wynd, C.A. (2003). Current factors contributing to professionalism in nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 19(5), 251–261. Contributing Editor Camille A. Servodidio, RN, MPH, CRNO, OCN®, CCRP, is an RN coordinator/project director for the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program at the Hartford Hospital Cancer Clinical Research Office. APRIL 2008 ONS CONNECT 19 http://www.gallup.com/poll/103123/Lobbyists-Debut-Bottom-Honesty-Ethics-List.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/103123/Lobbyists-Debut-Bottom-Honesty-Ethics-List.aspx

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ONS Connect - April 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In Work-Life Balance A Year in the Life—Month Four Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Enhance Your Professionalism in Your Daily Practice Help Patients Integrate Yoga Into Cancer Care Caregiver Care Epigenetics Offers New Options for Cancer Diagnosis Working for You Calendar of Events Staying on Top

ONS Connect - April 2008

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