Profession and Professionalism

Kiran S. Bajracharya

Profession• Profession is the existence of a specialized

body of knowledge, possession and the use of which enable to perform a highly useful social function.

• Society depends on the smooth functioning of the professions.

• The functional relationship of the professions to social progress places them in an important position in the social framework.

ProfessionProfession is influenced by the following values1. Duties and responsibilities2. Personality3. Economic outcomes4. Professional ethics.

• These values guided the professional status of any occupation.

• Any profession is based on professional ethics with duties and responsibilities on his head so that he can have economic outcomes with social obligation.

Professional Characteristics

• Specialized knowledge and Social Utility

• Attitudes and Professional Behaviors

• Social Sanction

• Desire to be a professional

Specialized Knowledge and Social Utility

• An applied body of knowledge may be composed of knowledge of a manual skill or intellectual knowledge.

• It is the intellectual knowledge, which is of primary significance as a criterion for professions.

• Specialized knowledge and social utility is related to ethics.

Attitudes and Professional Behaviors

• The professional man, it has been said, does not work in order to be paid: he is paid in order that he may work. Every decision he makes in the course of his career is based on his sense of what is right, not on his estimate of what is profitable.”

• The basic component is an unselfish concern for the welfare of others.

Social Sanction• Social sanctions are actually the resultant effect

of specialized knowledge and professional behavior.

• Whether or not an occupation is a profession depends, to a large degree, on whether society views it as such.

• Social sanction is the granting of exclusive rights of practice through the licensing power of the state.

• Income and power with which society rewards the professional.

Desire to be a professional

• The desire to serve a highly useful function in society is one of the main stimuli to professional behavior.

• Income must be sufficiently high so that the gain from exploiting an individual patient becomes an insignificant part of total income.

Traits of the Professional1. Knowledge and skills of a profession.2. Commitment to self-improvement of skills and

knowledge.3. Service orientation.4. Pride in the profession.5. Covenantal relationship with the client.6. Creativity and innovation.7. Conscience and trustworthiness.8. Accountability for his or her work.9. Ethically sound decision-making.10. Leadership.

Pharmacy as Profession

• Pharmacy has a legitimate claim to a theoretical body of knowledge, to a growing degree of socially sanctioned decision-making authority and to a commitment of service functions as articulated by a code of ethics.

• The management of prescribed medicines. • The management of chronic conditions.• The management of common ailments. • The promotion and support of healthy lifestyles.

Professionalism

• Set of attitudes and behaviors believed to be appropriate to a particular occupation.

• The active demonstration of the traits of a professional.

• Constituting those attitudes and behavior that serve to maintain patient interest above self-interest, and displaying values, beliefs and attitudes that put the needs of another above your personal needs.

Elements of Professionalism

• Altruism - putting patients’ best interests first• Accountability - to patients, to society, and to

their profession• Excellence - exceeding expectations and

commitment to lifelong learning• Duty - commitment to service in the

community

Professionalism in Pharmacy

• Professionalism is displayed in the way pharmacists conduct themselves in professional situations.

• Professionalism is created through a combination of behaviors, including courtesy and politeness when dealing with patients, peers, and other health care professionals.

• Pharmacists should consistently display respect for others and maintain appropriate boundaries of privacy and discretion.

Structural Attributes of Professions

• Specialized body of knowledge and skills• Unique socialization• Licensure/certification• Professional associations• Governance by peers• Social prestige• Vital service to society• Code of ethics• Autonomy• Equivalence of members, and• Special relationship with clients.

Suchman’s Model of the Stages of Illness Experiences

1. Symptom Experience

2. Assumption of the Sick role

3. Medical Care Contact

4. Dependent patient

5. Recovery or rehabilitation