Workplace ethics and professionalism

Abstract

Hospitals and clinics can be high-stress environments full of perfectionist people, and it is relatively easy to understand that episodes of unprofessional behavior and breakdowns of teamwork are not rare in the health-care setting. Professionalism is difficult to define, but everyone knows what it is. And everyone knows when he/she is on the receiving end of unprofessional or disrespectful behavior. The easiest way to think of eliminating such behaviors is to educate health-care providers and/or punish them for indiscretions. But the problem is more complex than this and an organizational approach may be more effective. In this chapter common examples of unprofessional behavior that every single neurosurgeon will be able to identify with are presented. An introduction to an organizational approach and framework to improve the ethic within an institution is presented. Some very simple and practical guidelines to improve professionalism are also offered, such as responding to e-mails in a timely way and attending to meetings and other commitments on time.