Definition of Professionalism
Professionalism provides the cornerstone for safe, effective and ethical health care practice. It prioritises the welfare and well being of the patient/client at its centre, in line with public expectations, ensuring it remains central in all clinical decisions and actions. It is a dynamic, evolutionary concept that is predicated on the professional values and role virtues of respect for self and others, compassion, self-awareness, honesty, integrity, accountability and a commitment to continual improvement and self-regulation. It is acquired through experiential reflective learning and requires persistence and observation in professional practice. It may be influenced by other factors such as the context of care delivery, cultural issues, social mores and system expectations. All health care disciplines within the Faculty of medicine nursing and health sciences foster students personal and professional growth to ensure they develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for excellence in practice in the 21st century, which adheres to the expected codes of conduct of each discipline.