MLAB 2360 CLINICAL I
Pillars of Professionalism
Professional: What Does it Mean?

Exhibiting a courteous, conscientious and
business-like manner in the workplace
 Courteous:
follow the golden rule
 Conscientious: Be prepared, do quality work
 Business-like: behave appropriately, present yourself
well
Why is Professional Behavior Important?
 Creates
a sense of trust and safety among patients
and co-workers
 Promotes confidence in the facility
 Creates an positive, uplifting and optimistic
environment
What’s in it for me?


You will be treated with respect and courtesy
You will be perceived as prepared, effective and
worthy
Professional behaviors

Workers are considered professional when they do
certain tasks and refrain from doing other tasks

Time & Place for Everything
 Personal

calls, cell phones, making appointments
Personal Use of Supplies & Equipment
 Computers,
copy machines, printers, etc.
Discussing Personal Problems
 Discussing Medical Conditions
 Borrowing & Lending Money
 Soliciting

Professional Development

Develop your “person”
 Join
ASCLS and/ or ASCP
 Create a resume to track your accomplishments
 Attend continuing education seminars
 Participate in lab week
Professional Development

Serve the Community
 Be
a lobbyist for licensure
 Recruit in the high schools
 Participate in health or wellness fairs
 Volunteer in community clinics
 Donate blood
TACLS: Your State Society



Strength in numbers with licensure initiatives
and other legislation (loan forgiveness,
scholarships, etc.)
Networking
Continuing education: Annual Meetings
 2016:
TACLS Annual Meeting in SA, TX in April
 2016 ASCLS Convention in Philadelphia, PA in July


Inspiration
Discounts
Pillars
Pillars


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Integrity
Accountability
Responsibility
 If
you make an error, own up to it
 Pre-analytical errors
 Follow through
 Initiative
 Ask for Help
Pillars



Punctuality
Attendance
Trust
 Operations
depend on their workforce
 Don’t take advantage of your co-workers
Pillars

Attention to Detail
 Strive
for zero errors
 Be on alert for preanalytical, analytical and
postanalytical phases of testing
Pillars

Customer Service
 Co-workers,
patients, doctors and other facility
employees are our customers
 Treat every customer as you would like to be treated
Pillars

Organizational Skills
 Learn
how to prioritize
 Speed will come with experience
 Develop a routine and stick to it
Pillars

Communication
 Elements
 Verbal:
word choices, vocabulary
 Vocal: volume & pace, tone, emphasis, inflection
 Visual: facial expression, body language/posture,
appearance
Communication

Tips for Success
Chose appropriate times
 Reduce/ Eliminate barriers
 Create a positive environment
 Use various delivery mediums
 Provide a precise message
Sender
 Check for understanding
 Listen
 React with eye contact, nods
 Respond by acknowledging, ask questions

Receiver
Creating a Positive Environment


Just because “we have always done it this way”
does not mean a behavior is acceptable
Creating a positive ripple:
 You
must be willing to identify and stop tolerating/
enabling what is not working. You should do the
right thing even though it may be unpopular
 Use initiative to teach others to do the same
How Can You Be a Positive Force in
the Workplace?







Observe yourself in action
Stop being negative
Learn to respect people’s humanity and their
right to be by themselves
Recognize negativity around you
Speak up
Make conversations constructive
Offer praise
Ethics
Ethics



How does one act ethically?
How do I know if I am ethical?
What should I do if I find practices in my lab are
not passing the ethical test?
Ethics

What is “ethics”?
 According
to the American College Dictionary,
“ethics” means:
1. The principles of morality, including both the science of
the good and the nature of the right
2. The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a
particular class of human actions, as in “medical ethics”
3. Moral principles, as of an individual
4. The science of the human character in its ideal state
Ethics


All of us have values even though we may not
know it or admit it to ourselves.
Sometimes our values don’t make themselves
apparent until we are confronted with a tough
issue or decision.
Ethical Violations

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Lying or Distorting facts
Blaming others for one’s mistakes
Taking credit for others work
HIPPA violation
Abusing sick time
Borrowing supplies

Most professions have established a Code of
Conduct or a Code of Ethics for people in the field
Example: Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, Nurses
take the Florence Nightingale Oath
 The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
has established a Code of Ethics for clinical laboratory
professionals. It can be found at
http://www.ascls.org/about/ethics.asp


The ASCLS Code of Ethics basically states that all
laboratory professionals have:
 I.
Duty to the Patient
 II. Duty to Colleagues and the Profession
 III. Duty to Society

ASCLS Pledge to the Profession
As a clinical laboratory professional, I strive to:
Maintain and promote standards of excellence in performing
and advancing the art and science of my profession
 Preserve the dignity and privacy of others
 Uphold and maintain the dignity and respect of our profession
 Seek to establish cooperative and respectful working
relationships with other health professionals
 Contribute to the general well being of the community.
I will actively demonstrate my commitment to these
responsibilities throughout my professional life.



The ASCLS Code of Ethics and Pledge to the
Profession can serve as a “moral compass” to
guide clinical laboratory professionals in their
jobs and even in their interactions with friends
and family.
Decision-making can be tough in any situation,
but particularly tough when you are a recent
graduate or when you are the only person
working in the lab when a decision is needed.
Value-Based Decision-Making
Model
1.
State the problem:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Identify the ethical concerns (i.e. legality)
Identify who is affected
Collect additional information
1.
5.
6.
7.
Is it an ethical problem or a situation with an ethical component
Solid proof, document the facts
Identify resources available- who to contact
Look for alternative solutions- consider side effects
Decide how the solution should be implemented
1.
2.
Frame a choice from the possible alternative solutions and
compare it with personal or professional values
List the short and long term consequences of the choice.

Example of using the Value-Based DecisionMaking Model
 The
Lead MLT is the only staff person left in the lab
on a Saturday evening. Two technicians arrive for
the midnight shift. One of the technicians seems to
be under the influence of something; her gait is
unsteady and her speech is slurred.
 What would you do?

Example of using the Value-Based Decision-Making
Model (cont’d)

Using the Decision-Making Model outlined on previous
slide , this is what the Lead MLT decided:
1. The problem is that this midnight tech might be drunk or
under the influence of some drug and her ability to function
may be impaired.
 2. The Lead MLT values excellent patient care and accurate
laboratory testing. He also values maintaining a good
working relationship with the midnight tech and her
friendship. Too, he values his free time and a good night’s
sleep.


Example of using the Value-Based DecisionMaking Model (cont’d)
 3.
The Lead MLT could:




A. Stay for a double shift, assigning the midnight MLT to
harmless tasks
B. He could warn the other midnight tech about this possibly
impaired MLT, leave, and hope for the best
C. He could call his supervisor for a decision
D. He could ignore the situation and hope for the best

Example of using the Value-Based DecisionMaking Model (cont’d)
 4.
This Lead MLT chose alternative D (ignored the
situation and hoped for the best). He decided that his
friendship with this person and maintaining a good
working relationship with her, along with wanting his free
time and a good night’s sleep, was priority.

Example of using the Value-Based DecisionMaking Model (cont’d)
 5.



 6.
Short-term consequences of his decision include:
A. The Lead MLT could go home and not work a double shift.
B. His supervisor would not have to be disturbed.
C. The impaired employee could work with no reprimands.
Long- term consequences are that laboratory errors
could affect patient care.

Example of using the Value-Based DecisionMaking Model (cont’d)
 Is
this the decision you would have made? Maybe,
maybe not. It is difficult to know until you are
actually in that situation.