Professionalism

What features of my personality do I want to be more evident to the patients for whom I will have responsibilities?

This is a question I’ve been reflecting on throughout third and fourth year. On my inpatient pediatrics rotation in third year, taking care of “little kiddos” like my residents like to call them, was very different from taking care of adults. Yes, there’s the difference in clinical presentations and various illnesses and pathology, however there was also a difference in how to communicate and relate to kids. As someone who strives to maintain a high level of professionalism in the hospital and work place, transitioning to working in a children’s hospital was somewhat of a challenge. Normally, I’m used to putting on my “work face,” my “time to get serious face,” “the I’m all professional face” as soon as I walk in through those hospital doors. However, during my first week of my inpatient pediatrics rotation, I watched as my fellow medical student on the team, make silly faces with some of her patients, giggle and talk in high-pitched animated voices, and find creative ways to make them laugh or feel comfortable around her. I was impressed. I saw her seamlessly maintain her professionalism, yet showcase features of her personality to her patients. It challenged my notion of what “professionalism” truly meant. Perhaps it’s not putting your big girl pants on and pretending to be grown up. When you have little kiddos as your patients, professionalism has to be weaved in with finding creative and fun ways to relate to your patients, show your personality, ease their anxiety, and make them feel slightly more comfortable, though they are in a vulnerable state. Dare I say, it is an art. A challenge I am tackling each day, as I walk into my patients’ rooms.

During fourth year, it started to feel easier. As I became more knowledgeable, more comfortable interacting with patients, I was able to let my personality shine through. I was honored when my classmates recognized me as someone that was not only professional but compassionate and humanistic, and was thus inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (videos and pics below). On my different rotations during fourth year – acute pain, advanced anesthesiology etc, I made jokes with my adult patients, and made them smile and laugh. As I start residency, I realize one can still maintain a high level of professionalism and still showcase their humanistic qualities and personality. I realize I will be faced with emotionally challenging situations and being burnt out is a very high possibility. However, with the lessons on professionalism gained during medical school at OSUCOM, and the help of my co-residents and residency program, my goal is to continue to demonstrate compassion, respect, sensitivity to my diverse patient population, and the ethical principles of my profession, while appropriately showcasing my personality.

Gold Humanism Honor Society Induction

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *