My Professional Identity

As a professional, our identities are essential to practice. They provide us with a

framework for which we work. This framework shapes our practice and identifies both our values and beliefs. In an ideal world, my values and beliefs will align with both my organization and professional body; this is not always the case for some. Therefore, the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives has created professional standards, practice standards and a code of ethics.

As a Registered Psychiatric Nurse in good standing, I am accountable for my actions. Adhering to the code of ethics, I must provide safe and competent care. I must also uphold the values of an individual's right to choose, their dignity, mental health and well-being and quality practice. The code of ethics is a “framework for professional responsibility and accountability” (BCCNM, 2021). Both the professional standards and code of ethics work hand in hand to identify professional requirements. Professional standards are the “expected level of performance of a registered psychiatric nurse” (BCCNM, 2020). There are five standards: therapeutic relationships, competent and evidence-informed practice, professional responsibility, leadership, collaboration and professional and ethical practice.

Having been in this profession for the past six years, my professional identity has changed and evolved. I have learned to adapt and expand with the ever-changing health care system. Health care is by no means linear. That being said, my code of ethics and standards of practice have always been maintained. I strive to provide the best care possible. I work collaboratively with colleagues, clients, families, and other stakeholders. Taking an evidence-based approach I ensure that treatment is current and ethical. I value reliability, consistency, and accountability. I expect that these values are transparent across all forms of communication, whether verbal communication, written communication, or nonverbal communication. The same applies to social media. These are key to a successful career in nursing and that of a successful leader. Nurses take on a leadership role within their field of practice and throughout school, we are taught the values of a good leader to shape and model for the next generation of nurses. I strive to ascertain a transformational form of leadership and I want to encourage and motivate colleagues to create change. This is how the health care system will grow and evolve to accommodate the ever-changing needs.

Within the health care system, I am one piece to the puzzle. I work on a multidisciplinary team, where recovery orientated practice takes center stage. We all have the same goal in mind, but our care each has its focus. For instance, the psychiatrist's role is to diagnose and make treatment recommendations. My role is to then provide the appropriate treatment, whether medication administration or client education. Collaboration is key to success. As discussed in the article written by Mercer University (2021) nurses are most often the first point of contact within the health care system. We then relay pertinent information to allied health professionals. Spending the most amount of time with clients, we have insight into varying aspects of a client's life. We spend a lot of time providing client education and advocating on the client's behalf in our work.

Working towards my Masters of Health Studies I intend to further my knowledge allowing me to take on a leadership role within my organization. I feel this will provide me with the opportunity for both personal and professional growth.

References

British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. (2020). Professional Standards. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.bccnm.ca/Documents/standards_practice/rpn/RPN_Professional_Standards.pdf

British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. (2021). Code of ethics. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.bccnm.ca/Documents/standards_practice/rpn/RPN_CodeofEthics.pdf

Mercer University. (2021, November 8). Why the role of nurses is important in healthcare - absn. Mercer University ABSN. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://absn.mercer.edu/blog/why-the-role-of-nurses-is-important-in-healthcare/