Pharmacy Professionalism Toolkit for Students and Faculty Provided by the APhA-ASP/AACP Committee on Student Professionalism

PREAMBLE

Ten Traits that Distinguish a Professional
As defined in the 1999 APhA-ASP/AACP White Paper on Student Professionalism ², pharmacists and pharmacy students act professionally when they display the following behaviors as categorized into 10 broad traits ³:

1. 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 client 
6. Creativity and innovation 
7. Conscience and trustworthiness
8. Accountability for his/her work
9. Ethically sound decision-making
10. Leadership

Professional Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors

• Performs responsibilities in a manner consistent with the school’s or college’s educational outcomes statement, the CAPE outcomes, NABP and ACPE competencies, professional associations’ competency statements and other professionalism documents
• Interacts effectively with faculty, staff, other students, patients and their families, pharmacy colleagues and other health professionals

Commitment to Self-Improvement and Life-Long Learning

• Reflects critically on his or her actions and seeks to improve proficiency in all facets of his/her responsibilities
• Accepts and responds to constructive feedback
• Provides constructive feedback to others
• Recognizes limitations and seeks help when necessary
• Takes responsibility for learning; an active and self-directed learner
• Does not participate in activities that compromise learning (disruptive behavior, cheating)
• Maintains personal health and well-being

Service Orientation/Altruism

• Demonstrates concern for the welfare of others; uses skills and knowledge to improve their quality of life
• Recognizes and avoids conflicts of interest
• Provides service to the community and society-at-large
• Offers to help others when they are busy or in need of assistance
• Shares opportunities for recognition with others
• Does not seek to profit unfairly from others
• Puts patient needs above their own, e.g., staying as long as necessary to ensure appropriate care

Continuing Commitment to Excellence and Pride in the Profession

• Demonstrates dedication to his/her patients and the profession supported by a strong work ethic
• Upholds the competent delivery of health care services; addresses lack of knowledge or skill in self and others
• Conscientious; well-prepared for class and clinical rotations
• Displays a consistent effort to exceed minimum requirements; demonstrates quality work

Covenantal Relationship with the Patient and Respect for Others

• Empathetic and responsive to the needs of the patient, the patient’s family and other members of the health care team
• Respects a patient’s autonomy, privacy, and dignity
• Involves the patient as a partner in his/her health care decisions; honors the patient’s values and belief systems
• Respects and appreciates the diversity of his/her patients
• Listens and communicates effectively
• Maintains appropriate boundaries
• Advocates for others
• Non-judgmental; displays compassion and empathy
• Skillful in establishing a rapport with patients and other health care team members
• Contributes to team building
• Maintains composure and adapts well to changing or stressful situations
• Resolves conflicts fairly

Creativity and Innovation

• Contributes to quality improvement in all professional endeavors
• Applies creative and innovative approaches to challenges
• Contributes to the development of new knowledge and practices that advance pharmaceutical care

Conscience and Trustworthiness

• Demonstrates a high degree of integrity, truthfulness, and fairness
• Uses time and resources appropriately
• Truthful about facts or events
• Does not hide errors

Accountability

• Demonstrates initiative, reliability and follow-through in fulfilling commitments
• Promptly completes responsibilities in a timely manner (notifies appropriate individual of unexpected emergencies)
• Responsible for, and accountable to others (e.g., patients their families, to society and the profession)
• Accepts responsibility for one’s errors and explores ways to prevent errors from occurring in the future
• Confronts individuals who demonstrate unprofessional behavior
• Does not participate in activities that impair judgment or compromise patient care responsibilities
• Accountable for his/her academic and professional performance

Ethically Sound Decision-Making

• Demonstrates an awareness of professional norms, laws, and behavior; knowledgeable of theories and principles underlying ethical conduct
• Adheres to high ethical and moral standards
• Able to cope with a high degree of complexity and uncertainty
• Controls emotions appropriately even under stressful conditions; maintains personal boundaries
• Prioritizesresponsibilities properly

Leadership

• Contributes to the profession; actively involved in professional organizations or other venues
• Proactive in solving social and professional challenges
• Helps promote a culture of professionalism
• Embraces and advocates for change that improves patient care
• Encourages current and future pharmacists in their professional development

² APhA-ASP/AACP-COD Task Force on Professionalism. White paper on pharmacy student professionalism. J. Am. Pharm. Assoc. 2000; 40:96-102.
³ Ten Marks of a Professional Working Smart. New York, NY: National Institute of Business Management, March 11, 1991; 17(5)

Preamble
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