Sub-domain:
Approach to practice & care: Professionalism
Statements related to sub-domain:
Demonstrate a commitment to the core values of altruism, caring, honor, integrity, excellence, and duty with individual behaviors
consisting of respect, accountability, empathy, and compassion while giving the outward appearance of a professional as exhibited
by being well-groomed/dressed, punctual, and courteous.
Key terms and definitions:
References:
CAPE 2004:
 “Carry out duties in accordance with legal, ethical, social, economic, and professional guidelines.”
 “Maintain professional competence by identifying and analyzing emerging issues, products, and services that may impact…”
CAPE 1998:
I – G Display the attitudes, habits, and values required to render pharmaceutical care.
1. Provide pharmaceutical care ethically and compassionately
2. Provide pharmaceutical care in professional manner
“Valuing & ethical decision making: making rational, ethical decisions regarding complex personal, societal, and professional
situations within a context of personal and professional values.
Interpret decision making with a context of personal and professional values.
 Recognize the influence of personal values in personal and professional settings.
 Identify and test one’s personal values.
 Respect the values of others within decision making.
 Integrate personal and professional values into decision making.
Make and defend rational, ethical decisions
 Resolve ethical dilemmas through a systematic decision-making process based on clearly articulated ethical theories and
principles.
 Resolve ethical issues through an analysis of the ethical principles.
 Evaluate the ethical accountability of actions, intentions, and outcomes.”
Levels of Performance Expected of Students Graduating from First Professional Degree Programs in Pharmacy in Canada – May
2011
“As Professionals pharmacy graduates honor their roles as self-regulated professionals through both individual patient care and
fulfillment of their professional obligations to the profession, the community and society at large. Students fulfill the full range of
roles required of a self-regulated health professional. They consistently act in a professional manner. In a practice environment
they maintain the patient’s best interest as their priority.”
Report AACP Professionalism Task Force – AJPE 2011;75(10)Article S4
“The traits of a professional include: knowledge and skills; a commitment to self-improvement and life-long learning; a serviceminded orientation; pride in the profession and a dedication to advance its value to society; create a covenantal relationship with
those served; alertness, creativity, initiative, and innovation; conscientiousness, integrity, and trustworthiness; flexibility and
punctuality; accountability for his/her performance; ethically sound decision making and moral behavior; and leadership.”
Student Professionalism – AJPE 2003;67(3)Article 96
Professionalism umbrella with with the following items and the student as the handle/central pole: 1) professional competence
(knowledge); 2) mentoring and modeling; 3) school culture and environment; 4) extracurricular activities; 5) personal values; 6)
instruction and guidance (faculty/practitioner); 7) communication; and 8) empathy.
Core values that includes altruism/service, caring, honor, integrity, duty, and others…
Behaviors demonstrated by the individual: respect, accountability, empathy, compassion, and others…
Dressing professionally, punctuality, acting courteously, exhibiting good grooming habits, and so on…
Attitudinal attributes of professionals…use of the professional organizations as a major reference; belief in service to the public;
belief in self-regulation; sense of calling to the field; and autonomy.
Behavioral attributes…
“Professionalism in displayed in the way pharmacists conduct themselves in professional situations. This definition implies a
demeanor that is created through a combination of behaviors, including courtesy and politeness when dealing with patients, peers,
and other health care professionals. Pharmacists should consistently display respect for others and maintain appropriate
boundaries of privacy and discretion. Whether dealing with patients of interacting with others on a health care team, it is important
to possess – and display – an empathetic manner.”
“Behavioral professionalism includes attributes such as reliability and dependability; confidence; active learning; communication
respectfully and articulately; accepting and applying constructive criticism; behaving ethically,; demonstrating a desire to exceed
expectations; putting others’ needs above one’s own’ and other professional behaviors.”
“American Board of Internal Medicine: altruism; accountability; excellence; duty; honor and integrity; and respect for others.”