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Maintaining professionalism individually.
As we approach the end of this three-part topic, we shall finally cover the element of individually- based professionalism. In other words, the responsibility we have towards ourselves as dental care professionals and also the responsibility we have towards our profession through association. It is important that we continue to assess and monitor our clinical skills and knowledge as well as our behaviour and attitude.
Patients expect a certain standard of care from the dental team and choose to put their trust in us. We must not let them down. The final standard set out by the GDC states very simply that we need to “be trustworthy” and this really does sum up this section perfectly. Professionalism as an individual requires us to be trustworthy in all aspects of our position.
The GDC also states:
- Justify the trust that your patients, the public and your colleagues have in you by always acting honestly and fairly.
- Apply these principles to clinical and professional relationships and any business or educational activities you are involved in.
- Maintain appropriate standards of personal behaviour in all walks of life so that patients have confidence in you and the public have confidence in the dental profession.
Being a dental nurse, a registered dental care professional, comes with great responsibility and we must be aware at all times of how we behave, communicate and express ourselves. We are always associated with the dental industry whatever we do and any one mistake we make may have an impact on our fitness to practise. Our behaviour must justify the trust that the public places in the medical profession.
Examples of unprofessional behaviour (in and out of work) include:
- Criminal convictions or cautions
- Drunk and disorderly behaviour
- Assault or physical violence
- Bullying or abuse
- Rudeness or disrespect towards patients
Being professional requires effective communication.
In order to communicate effectively to patients, our profession expects us to:
- Speak to patients in a polite, patient manner and be respectful at all times.
- Strive to answer any questions asked of us by a patient and if we cannot answer a question, we must find someone who can. We should never keep quiet just because we personally don’t know an answer.
- Listen carefully and intently to what patients have to say whilst showing interest
- Show empathy when listening to a patient.
- Check, clarify and repeat back to a patient what they have told you so you are both absolutely clear.