Week 2: Professionalism

Question 1

Briefly examine the role of reflection and self-awareness for professionals

Answer 1

role of reflection and self-awareness helps us practising the art of being a veterinary nurse/vet
self-awareness: attention to your emotions, attitudes and behaviours in response to specific situations
knowing oneself, being conscious of characters (values, beliefs, qualities, strengths and limitations)

Question 2

Explore the scope and importance of veterinary teamwork

Answer 2

broadwork of veterinary professions working together as a team to provide integrated healthcare

dynamic process involving two or more healthcare
professionals with complementary backgrounds and skills, sharing common health goals and exercising concerted mental and physical efforts in assessing, planning, or evaluating patient care.

important
- delivering effective healthcare services
- positive patient outcomes
- economic benefits
- staff retention and satisfaction
- Interprofessional education & teamwork – emerging
areas in veterinary nursing/veterinary fields

less room for errors (low moral, reduced job satisfaction, high levels of frustration)

Question 3

Reflect on attributes of effective ‘team players’

Answer 3

1. conscientiousness
2. agreeableness
3. social perceptiveness
4. flexibility/adaptability
5. accepting of others
6. sharing professional values

Question 4

Define interprofessional education and teamwork

Answer 4

Interprofessional education is a social
learning activity in which health practitioners
in different professions learn with, from, and
about each other

Relies on:
• Respect between professions
• Shared professional values
• Knowledge of each other’s roles & responsibilities
• Non-hierarchical communication and structures
• Interdependent collaboration
• A commitment to team goals and quality outcomes
• Clear boundaries between professions

Question 5

Examine what is professional identity and its development in the VT student

Answer 5

PID involves developing knowledge, skills, professional
judgement, critical reasoning and values shared by other
members of the profession.

• ‘Self-image which permits feelings of personal adequacy
and satisfaction in the performance of the expected
role’

Work placement experiences
• Clinical practice – importance of first year
• Professional socialisation is a critical element
• Recognition that it is a developmental, lifelong process

Question 6

Describe relevant professional organisations and be conversant with their roles and obligations in the field.

Answer 6

1. Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia
   Promoting the interests of veterinary nursing across Australia.
   a) to serve and represent Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Technicians;

b) to protect the professionalism of Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Technicians;

c) to promote the value of Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Technicians as vital in
delivery of quality Veterinary care;

d) to advocate for the increased recognition of Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary
Technicians across Australia;

e) to support Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Technicians through the provision
of continuing education and networking opportunities;

f) to strengthen the position of Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Technicians across
the Veterinary industry; and

g) to engage all Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Technicians across the Veterinary
industry

Maintaining standards of professional conduct
• GENERAL STANDARDS
• LEGISLATION
• CONFIDENTIALITY
• RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES
• PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

Question 7

Describe the attributes that underpin professionalism and ‘principles of veterinary professional ethics’, and demonstrate evidence of reflective practice and self-directed learning (the foundations of lifelong learning and continuing professional development).

Answer 7

• Ethical practice
• patient confidentiality; honesty; code of ethics
• Reflection/Self-awareness
• self-directed learning & self appraisal
• Responsibility/Accountability for actions
• commitment to lifelong learning, excellence
• Respect for patients, self, others
• non judgmental
• Teamwork
• Interprofessionalism (Thistlethwaite 2012)
• Social responsibility
• environmental sustainability
• Core humanistic values
• caring, compassion, empathy