What is a profession?
Based on Elizabeth H. Gorman and Rebecca L. Sandefur’s article, a ‘profession’ encompasses four key traits. The first is that a profession is based on expert knowledge. This can be interpreted as a codified information database, based on scientific research or moral thought, which provides guidelines on how professionals can implement this knowledge to real-world situations (Gorman and Sandefur 2011; Jonathan V. Beaverstock, James R. Faulconbridge, and Sarah J. E. Hall 2009). Moreover, to internalize the knowledge of a profession requires great time-investment (Dinovitzer 2016). In reality, there are bound to ambiguous situations when the formal body of knowledge cannot be solely relied upon for coming up with a solution. Rather, Gorman and Sandefur suggest how professionals in these scenarios apply their solutions based on their own experience that has accumulated over time (2011). Essentially, a formal body of knowledge does not possess the answer to every problem that arises because these are human interactions at the end of the day. Instead, professionals collect reference points from day-to-day experiences at work, that can help them come up with a solution in an ambiguous situation, when the ‘textbook’ does not suffice. All in all, expert knowledge is one
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Adams reveals how this professional project was successful in that dental hygienists were granted their own regulatory college under the RHPA (2004). This is significant because it is generally understood that the profession of higher status will win the professional project. However, the aforementioned example portrays how this is not entirely the case whereby some degree of success in professional projects is possible for lower-status
The use of a false dichotomy is seen when Rebarb claims, “…checklists…reduce expensively trained medical professionals to bureaucrats who spend time ticking off items…when they could be…seeing more patients.” (2010, p. 1A). Rebarb tries to prove both careers are opposites when in fact, they are related. Health professionals require checklists, like bureaucrats, to complete a proper checkup, for example. These health professionals possess every step needed, on the checklist, in order to prevent lawsuits and make sure the client is healthy. Nevertheless, Rebarb tries to argue not only the opposition between the two careers, but between the career of a health professional and the helpfulness of the checklist.
Professionalism, however, can take on many different forms which depend on where you work and the type of job responsibility you have. There are few common traits when it comes to being professional (Monster, 2013). This includes being Competent. This traits means that you are good at what you do – and you have the skills and knowledge that enable you to do your job well (Monster, 2013). Also it encompasses self-awareness, self confidence, and social skills. Competent person should display leadership skills, decision-making abilities, team work skills and ability to inform others of needed information. He or she is always up to the requirements of one’s profession and also able to seek out resources when necessary to stay competent (Octech.edu, 2013). Lack of competency in workplace will affect the way the …
All the various factors that lead me to dentistry amounted to just a part of my decision to become a dentist, the other half of my decision came from the simple question, “(w)ill this be a satisfying career for me?” A satisfying career, to me, is defined by whether or not I can use my career as a means to assist others and experience a sense of accomplishment and self-gratification in helping others. The notion of a satisfying career was one that came through personal experiences. Being a former Medicaid recipient, I was thankful to those that worked in the public health sector to help those in need, including myself and my family. Through my past experiences, I felt obligated to reciprocate the resources and assistance that I had received. At the end of my career, I hope to reflect back on my career and experience a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment for having helped others throughout my career; this is what will amount to successful career, from my point of view.
I feel that I'm suited for the HIM profession due to my dedication to keeping patient's information safe. I care for a single chart as though it is my personal information. I work a claim as though this could be me on the other end. I truly understand that a simple mistake could delay a payment or losing patient information could be detrimental to our patients and their future care.
“Professionalism is the capacity of high degree standard, which a person needs to have in his
Professionals are people who have equipped themselves with the knowledge and skills in a given field. The interest of improvement of the professional identity is an evidence of how high standards are placed upon the professionals in the community (Johnson et al., 2012). Each profession creates its norms, values and scope of practice that distinguishes it from any other profession. Different legal ethics are upheld and everyone needs to work as per the stipulated ethics in the field to be part of the profession. People in the field are expected to be knowledgeable and independently use decision
Of all the knowledge and skills that I have gained during my undergraduate studies, it is the experience I have gained as a research and dental assistant that will contribute the most to my career as a dentist. Although a strong science background is essential to succeed in dental school, my unique combination of personal motivation, social skills, perseverance, and desire to help those in need will allow me to excel in this profession. To appreciate the characteristics that set me apart from other students pursuing similar goals, it is necessary to understand how I reached the point where I am today.
Stevenson, J., ed. Cognition at Work: The Development of Vocational Expertise. Leabrook, Australia: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 1994. (ED 380 542)
Moreover, job performance, education, knowledge, and training tend to mold each individual in a distinctive way and unfortunately, some personalities just do not mix. For instance, it is obvious that some of the senior partners just did not agree with Mike Roth’s personality and aggressive nature, which caused a colossal clash within the firm. Informal deficiencies occur when there is some sort of break down in communications in regards to any type of workplace environment.
Betsy Collard, another career specialist, believes that part of this trend is related to "how personally knowledge workers view their work and the meaning of it," but that it is also related to changes in the economy. "In times of change, everybody turns inward to get clear about what's important to them, who they are, and what they want out of this" (ibid.).
Today workers have more discretionary power and are allowed to make independent decisions during the course of their work. This is essential part of meeting clients’ expectations and ensuring quality of the service. Understandably, the requirement of assuming greater responsibility through making key decisions is an additional source of pressure upon the workers. One thing all successful employees have to share is what we call adaptability to the changes. It is very important that today’s employees can make quick decisions on spot, address the needs of the clients, solve any possible tensions and ease frustrations, and then continue performing work-related responsibilities. However, Mallak (1998) notes that the majority of workers is unable to performs these functions on practice, as he believes many lack adequate training and/or preparation.
given level of work. While many professions hone in on specific areas of expertise, social
I decided to pursue my MPH degree to be followed with the Residency in Dental Public Health. Now, more than ever there is a need for public control and prevention of disease with healthcare costs spiraling out of control.
A specific element of professionalism is the concept that some professional roles should be governed by unique ethical norms. Professionals have a very prominent assumption that they are entitled to conform to ethical standards that are superior to those that apply to ordinary people. The superior aspect of these ethical standards is vague. Welch argues in his article, “Just another day at the office: The ordinariness of professional ethics”, that, “professional ethics may sometimes justify, even require, a practitioner to do something different than what would otherwise be morally obligatory” (p.76). These sets of standards, as a result, make an exception from committing to moral requirements. Individuals who embark on these roles acquire
4. “Without application in the real world, the value of knowledge is greatly diminished.” Consider this claim with respect to two areas of knowledge.