Professional Identity And Stewardship

Professional Identity And Stewardship 1 15professio

Professional identity and stewardship are fundamental components within the healthcare sector, influencing how health care professionals perceive their roles, responsibilities, and ethical commitments. These concepts shape the attitudes, behaviors, and leadership styles that ultimately impact patient care, team dynamics, and organizational growth. This essay explores these themes through two peer interview accounts conducted at Grand Canyon University, highlighting diverse perspectives on professional identity, stewardship of healthcare, and leadership qualities essential for fostering excellence in health services.

In the first interview, T.M., a registered nurse working as a case manager in an outpatient oncology clinic, exemplifies a deep-rooted passion and commitment to her profession. She describes professionalism as encompassing appearance, behavior, competence, reliability, and ethical practice, emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidentiality, accountability, and a compassionate approach. Her view aligns with the widely accepted perspective that professionalism extends beyond technical skills to include attitudes and moral responsibilities crucial in high-stakes environments such as oncology care. T.M. perceives leaders in her organization as stewards of health—engaged, committed, and actively advocating for patient safety, staff development, and collaborative practice. This stewardship involves fostering a supportive environment, refining roles, and ensuring adherence to standards that secure future excellence in nursing practice (Haase-Herrick, 2005). T.M. underscores that effective leaders exercise advocacy, authenticity, and influence, setting examples that inspire growth and trust among team members.

The account also highlights the significance of leadership traits such as genuine care, authenticity, and the ability to inspire others. T.M. advocates for leaders to demonstrate authentic motives, emotional expressiveness, and genuine concern, thereby fostering a trustworthy relationship with colleagues. These qualities are essential because they promote a healthy, motivated, and cohesive team environment—a critical factor in delivering high-quality patient care in complex and emotionally charged scenarios like oncology (Northouse, 2018). Furthermore, the importance of continuous professional development is emphasized, and leaders are seen as catalysts for lifelong learning, cultivating future nurse leaders and supporting a culture of ongoing improvement (Kouzes & Posner, 2017).

The second interview presents perspectives from Ms. XXXXX, a clinical supervisor on an acute pediatric care unit, who articulates her role as a leader involved in patient care assistance, staff development, and operational management. She describes professionalism as encompassing knowledge and skills, appearance, attitude, and respect for diversity. Her view aligns with the broader understanding that professionalism in healthcare is multifaceted—encompassing technical competence, ethical standards, and respectful interpersonal interactions (Ginsburg et al., 2014). Ms. XXXXX sees herself as a steward of healthcare by fostering openness to change, encouraging lifelong learning, and maintaining high standards of patient care. Her engagement in continuing education and support for evidence-based practice highlight her commitment to advancing the quality of healthcare (Lynch et al., 2019).

Leadership, from her perspective, involves authenticity—being genuine and transparent with her team—which helps build trust and a positive work environment. She emphasizes the importance of encouraging her team members to seek professional growth and actively participate in change initiatives. Her approach underscores the importance of authenticity and open communication in effective leadership, fostering a culture where staff feel valued, supported, and motivated to improve patient outcomes (Avolio & Gardner, 2005). Additionally, she underlines that a leader’s responsibility extends beyond individual task management to inspiring a shared vision and cultivating a resilient, competent workforce capable of adapting to healthcare innovations and challenges (Schein, 2010).

Comparing the responses of these two peers—one in a leadership role and the other a team member—reveals subtle differences reflecting their perspectives on professional identity and stewardship. The leader’s responses tend to focus on her role in guiding her team, fostering professional development, and promoting organizational change, whereas the team member’s emphasis is more on direct patient care and expectations from leadership. Despite these differences, common themes emerge, including integrity, advocacy, and a commitment to lifelong learning, which underpin effective stewardship of healthcare (Campbell & Foubister, 2004).

In conclusion, both interview accounts illustrate that professional identity and stewardship are integral to fostering a healthcare environment characterized by competence, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement. Leaders exhibit qualities such as authenticity, advocacy, and a proactive stance towards change, which inspire trust and motivate teams. The shared belief in the importance of ongoing professional development underscores the dynamic nature of healthcare, requiring leaders and team members alike to adapt and grow. Ultimately, nurturing these attributes can lead to improved patient outcomes, empowered staff, and sustainable organizational excellence.

References

• Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2005). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(3), 315–338.
• Campbell, J., & Foubister, T. (2004). A guide to leadership and management in health care. Oxford University Press.
• Ginsburg, L., Regehr, G., & Barrowman, N. (2014). Professionalism in medical education: Variations in definition and educational initiatives. Medical Education, 48(10), 999-1010.
• Haase-Herrick, K. (2005). The opportunities of stewardship. Nursing Leadership Forum, 16(4), 115–117.
• Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The leadership challenge (6th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
• Lynch, M. P., Bond, C., & Campbell, M. (2019). Evidence-based practice in healthcare: A guide for practitioners. Routledge.
• Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). Sage Publications.
• Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational culture and leadership (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.