Professionalism Audit
This audit allowed me to
reflect on my role as a healthcare professional and the interprofessional
collaborations and relationships that take place within the healthcare setting.
Each patient presents with their own physical or psychological burdens and we
need to remember that the care we provide to them needs to be individualized to
that person. We know the saying and I paraphrase, the patient may not remember
your name, but they will remember how you made them feel and the care you
provided to them. In my opinion, my fit within the health care system is multi-faceted;
a direct provider with the ability to brighten a person’s day, perform my job
effectively and help to improve the healthcare system at the floor level.
Despite being able to work independently as a
nuclear medicine technologist, I am not alone in my work. I often work within
my nuclear medicine team, however, this audit allowed me to look outside of the
diagnostic imaging “bubble”. I was able to highlight all the professional
relationships that are created throughout my daily work activities and the
various healthcare providers involved in creating a team for a patient. It also
broadened my thoughts to non-clinical professionals whose positions benefit
myself as a technologist as well as the patients’ and their families. An
example of that being within the nuclear stress lab. When performing a MIBI
test, a patient is first registered by the administrative team, then depending
on the department, patient preparation is done by a cardiology technologist
and/or nuclear medicine technologist. The test is then performed under the
supervision of a cardiologist or internist and in some places, a registered nurse
and the radiopharmaceutical is injected by the nuclear medicine technologist.
Scanning then follows in the nuclear medicine department and the stress lab is
then available to be cleaned at the appropriate time by a custodian. We all
play a part within the healthcare setting and it’s through this efficient and
effective collaboration is the Canadian healthcare system able to thrive and
improve.
I am currently registered
with various organizations: the CAMRT; the CMRTO; and the OAMRS. These
organizations have all been previously discussed in previous blog posts and are
linked on my e-portfolio. They provide the guidelines and professional values
to uphold as a medical radiation technologist (nuclear medicine). “The CAMRT
reminds MRTs that each member has the responsibility to always be aware of and
comply with the laws, regulations, standards, and codes that govern MRT
practice in his/her particular jurisdiction (provincial, territorial, or
federal)” ("Member Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct", 2015).They
help to form the constructs of my professional identity, an identity that is
important for me to possess with high moral compass. I strive to be a
healthcare provider that is knowledgeable but humble, informative but not
overbearing, diligent and well-informed. I am obligated to perform my duties respectfully
and within my scope of practice, and without risk of harm to myself, my
patients or colleagues. My personal identity and professional identity run
parallel to each other and this became evident during the social media audit.
Social Media Audit
The social media audit
introduced me to a term that is very important in today’s modern age, “appropriate
social media presence”. As a healthcare professional but also as a young person
who utilizes various social media accounts, I found this topic to be
interesting. This refers to the digital presence that we, as healthcare
providers should have when using social media and the values and professional
ethics we are required to maintain as it aligns with our professions. I was
able to find a very applicable article about social media usage for the
healthcare provider and included that in my blog post. It stated “Healthcare
professionals and students need to realize that online postings are permanent
and can negatively affect their license and ability to practice. To protect
yourself, think twice before you post content that could be judged as
“unprofessional.” (Balestra, 2018). After reading through the aforementioned
article, reading the content posted by my colleagues on Twitter and in our
course forums and from my own research and self reflection, I have a better
understanding on what my obligation as a healthcare provider is. Not only
within the healthcare setting but also, online. This audit allowed me to
understand the importance of online presence and possible repercussions of
actions that go against my professional ethics and values.
Conclusion
Throughout this course so
far, I have been able to broaden my abilities on content curation and
assembling information in a creative and organized fashion. The creation of my
e-portfolio will be something that I continue to utilize in the future,
academically and professionally. I have been able to evaluate myself as an
individual and healthcare provider while enhancing my knowledge of the topics
mentioned earlier. I was able to find areas of weakness in regard to a lack of
understanding of certain resources and tools and in aspects of the topic of
professional identity and ethics outside of the workplace. These activities reinforced
the importance of professional reflection. Reflection is a duty that we must
all do in order to grow and improve as healthcare professionals in the world
today.
References
Balestra, M. (2018).
Perils of Social Media for Healthcare Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.hpso.com/risk-education/individuals/articles/Perils-of-Social-Media-for-Healthcare-Professionals
This
article highlights the risk of social media usage, the potential consequences
that may arise due to improper usage of this popular online tool. It further
provides tips on how to conduct and protect yourself online as healthcare
professionals. Based on the author’s background as a nurse practitioner and as
a partner at a business and insurance law firm, her credentials are well suited
for the topic.
Member Code of Ethics and
Professional Conduct. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.camrt.ca/mrt-profession/professional-resources/code-of-ethics/
This
post provides information relating to the role of medical radiation
technologists in Canada. It explains the role as it pertains to patient-centred
care, evidence-based practice, safety in the workplace, and professional
integrity. This post was published by the CAMRT which is the professional body
that governs the practice of medical radiation technology in Canada and is an
important resource for information relating to professional ethics and conduct.
Tucker, G. (2018).
The Social Media Plan [Blog]. Retrieved from https://giselleandherrealm.blogspot.com/2018/09/social-media-plan.html
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