Top ten tips…for professionalism
Post date: 02/12/2015 | Time to read article: 1 minsThe information within this article was correct at the time of publishing. Last updated 18/05/2020
Conducting yourself in a professional manner is essential for a doctor. Dr John Jolly, Head of Member Risk Education at Medical Protection, shares his tips for maintaining a professional demeanour and avoiding unprofessional behaviours.
Professional vs. unprofessional
A professional doctor will:
- Take pride in doing a job well and pay attention to detail
- Take personal responsibility for their actions and the consequences
- Not be satisfied with a substandard result, and will seek to put things right
- Be prepared to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them and take appropriate steps to prevent recurrence
- Show respect for those who consult them in a professional capacity.
A professional doctor will avoid:
- Behaviour that suggests a disregard for the wellbeing of patients, or members of the public, and/or their dignity and rights
- Showing a disregard for the time and effort of those who are relying on them – for example, by consistently bad timekeeping
- Selfishness: putting one’s own financial or personal interests above all other considerations
- Agreeing to undertake a procedure for which the person lacks the necessary training, expertise or competence
- Being resistant to feedback or maintaining one’s continuing professional development.
Useful links
- Need help preparing for your CSA? Don't miss your exclusive discounts on Emedica exam support
- Earn CPD by visiting Medical Protection’s e-learning site Prism
