Profession and Professionalism
Profession
• Profession is unique service that meets the fundamental needs of the
individuals.
• It is a vocation or occupation that requires specialized knowledge,
training, and skills, often regulated by a particular body
• A professions provides a service or producing goods in a specialized field,
such as pharmacy, medicine, law, engineering, teaching, or accounting
• Professionals within these fields are expected to adhere to ethical
standards, codes of conduct, and ongoing education to maintain
competency
A professional stands for something
Professionalism
• It is the behaviors, attitudes, and characteristics expected of individuals
within a profession
• It involves conducting oneself with integrity, competence, respect, and
responsibility in interactions with colleagues, clients, and the public
• Professionalism includes qualities such as reliability, honesty,
punctuality, accountability, and a commitment to continuous
improvement
• Professionalism sets the standard for how individuals within that
profession should conduct themselves to uphold the reputation, trust,
and integrity of their profession
Professional characteristics
• Specialized Knowledge: Through formal education, training, and practical
experience which enables professionals to perform tasks
• Formal Education and Training: Specific to their profession includes academic
degrees, completing apprenticeships, internships, or professional certifications
• Ethical Standards: Governed by ethical codes of conduct that outline acceptable
behaviors and practices and expected to adhere.
• Regulation: Regulated by the councils, usually through licensing examination
• Autonomy and Responsibility: Have autonomy in their work, allowing them to
make independent decisions
Professional characteristics
• Service Orientation: Serves clients, patients, or society as a whole
• Continuing Education: Require professionals to engage in lifelong learning and
professional development to stay current with advancements in their field
• Associations: Organized to endorse the professional norms and standards, code
of conduct, networking and advocate for them
• Observed by the client and have power over the client: The professional’s work
is always observed by the client and provides feedback
• Complex activity: Other people cannot perform and do not have right
• An integral part of the society: Society cannot exist without it
Characteristics
• Serves the public
• Has complex activity
• Client may observe
• Authorities are sanctioned
• Limitations are given
• Is integral part of the society
• Have power over client
• Have relationship with the client
Professional practice
• Needs special knowledge
• Needs special skill
• Needs good attitude
• Devoted to service of the public
"FALSE DECISION MAY LEAD TO ERRORS"
Professionalism
• Become a professional
• Function as a professional
• Be responsible for profession
"ALL FUNCTIONS WITH CONCERN AND COMMITMENTS"
Nature of Profession
• Public nature: Serves public
• Special nature: Observed by the client and the work is not mechanical
• Professional prerogatives
• Professional discretions
• Professional autonomy
• Exclusive nature: Authorities and limitations are given
Inherent power of the professionals
• Exercise power over their clients and clients provides the
environment
• Enhance knowledge through practice
• Once the position is gained cannot be revoked
• Establishes professional-client relationship
"POWER SHOULD BE USED FOR GOOD OUTCOMES"
Pharmacy as Profession
• A pharmacist demonstrates a commitment to the development and
enhancement of the profession
• A pharmacist maintains a contemporary knowledge of pharmacy practice
and ensures health and competence to practice
• A pharmacist agrees to practice only under conditions which uphold the
professional independence, judgement and integrity of themselves or
others.
• Exercise professional autonomy, objectivity and independence and manage
actual and potential situations of conflict of interest.
Pharmacists make moral decisions that have effect to the health of a
patient.
