10.2. Professional Conduct Criteria
The faculty of the PA Program is committed to a philosophy of continuous self- assessment and professional development as an integral part of the learning process within professional education. Professional behaviors, attitudes, and abilities are essential for success as PAs. Academic and clinical faculty serve as mentors and role models within the professional education environment.
Professional development and conduct will be discussed during advisor-advisee meetings each semester in order to facilitate an understanding of professional responsibility and to recognize opportunities for enrichment, development, and improvement.
Professional conduct is consistently expected of all students in all Program-related activities, as well as when the students are acting as representatives of the Program and the Institute. In addition to the professional development assessment performed each semester, professional conduct will be assessed as part of all clinical experiences and in all practical exams.
Following are the Professional Conduct Criteria:
- Responsibility - The student consistently demonstrates his or her ability to:
- Be punctual and dependable.
- Complete responsibilities in a timely manner.
- Follow through with assigned or accepted responsibilities.
- Know and abide by relevant policies and procedures (e.g. for the Institute and its facilities, the Program and its resources, and program-related clinical settings).
- Use scheduled meeting times effectively.
- Self-Directedness - The student consistently demonstrates his or her ability to:
- Seek out and make use of a breadth of available and appropriate resources.
- Independently pursue learning without being consistently dependent upon others or over-utilizing any one set of resources in a way that might limit access to others.
- Initiate completion of responsibilities without waiting for direction or reminders from others.
- Communication - The student consistently demonstrates his or her ability to:
- Use a volume and clarity of speech that is understandable to the listener or audience.
- Utilize an appropriate level and type of language for the person, group and/or situation.
- Utilize a tone and attitude that demonstrates respect for others and their roles (e.g. peers, faculty, staff, clinicians, patients, families, other health professionals).
- Present or discuss one’s own views in a way that demonstrates respect for those with opposing viewpoints.
- Maintain appropriate body language and non-verbal cues in a way that demonstrates respect for others.
- Be attentive and respectful when others are speaking.
- Integrity and Comportment - The student consistently demonstrates his or her ability to:
- Be honest and demonstrate integrity.
- Maintain personal boundaries that are appropriate.
- Voice critical feedback, when necessary, in a spirit of helpfulness, in a nonjudgmental way, and at appropriate times.
- Respect those with opposing opinions
- Respect the role and contribution of others to one’s education and to health care delivery.
- Respect the confidentiality of others.
- Demonstrate ongoing self-reflection.
- Accept and respond openly to critical feedback.
- Demonstrate sensitivity for interpersonal differences, including but not limited to cultural, racial, and religious and gender.
- Dress and maintain a level of personal hygiene that is appropriate.
- Collaboration - The student consistently demonstrates his or her ability to:
- Collaborate effectively with others in a way that facilitates achievement of goals or objectives.
- Manage or attempt to manage conflict in constructive ways.