Promoting Professionalism and Ethics in Multidisciplinary Practice HEA4220

Overview

Healthcare professionals have developed a range of individual and shared beliefs and attitudes about their professions. Their understanding about the boundaries of their profession and the ways in which they may interact with others as part of an inter-professional healthcare team is often referred to as ‘professional identity’. In particular, power processes in team-based work are processes of meaning and identity formation. Challenges associated with professional identity can occur when confronted by contradictory and ambiguous situations and experiences.

Professionalism and ethical behaviours are constant themes across all healthcare disciplines and professional standards. The General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and General Dental Council (GDC) all highlight the importance of professionalism. However, there is also recognition that ‘professionalism’ is not a well-defined term.

This module will explore ways in which an individual can validate and support the development of professionalism, by means of creating a professional environment in healthcare settings and role modelling of professional values and behaviours, recognising how these can contribute to a good patient experience and sharing of best practice. The focus will be on multi-professional perspectives and application, as experienced in real world practice.

Please note: this module will not be running in the academic year 2023/24.

 

Module code:	HEA4220
Level:	7
Module credits:	20
Cost for new students:	£1000 for 2023/24 academic year

If you are an existing student who is undertaking this module as part of a programme, your fee will have been advised to you by email. You can also check your fees online. For any queries, please contact [email protected]

If your tuition fee is being paid by a sponsor or you are a sponsor paying a student’s fee, you are required to send a copy of a purchase order to [email protected].

For further guidance please visit: Sponsored students – Edge Hill University

Who is this module for?

• This module is suitable for nurses, doctors, dentists, and all members of HCPC professions.
• The module may be studied on a stand-alone basis or as an elective module within specific postgraduate programmes (see below)

What are the key aims of the module?

• To explore and critically appraise the notion of professionalism and professional identity in multi-disciplinary clinical practice.
• To critically examine ethical aspects associated with professionalism in healthcare.
• To assist in critical reflection on individuals’ practices and values when working in a multi-disciplinary team.

How will I study?

The module will be a mixture of online and face-to-face learning. This module will be studied on a Blended Learning Basis, with four face-to-face sessions to support online module delivery. The module overall takes 15 weeks.

What will I study?

• Development of a professional environment in healthcare settings.
• Power processes in teams.
• Professional Standards and Codes of Conduct.
• Role modelling.
• Methods for teaching/promoting professionalism.
• Mentoring and developing a professional identity.
• Reflective practice and professional ethics.
• Assessing professionalism in self and others.
• Micro and macro levels of professionalism.
• Ethics and ethical behaviours in practice settings.
• Professionalism and ethics in a digital age.
• Social media – the public and personal persona.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment required for successful completion
The module will be summatively assessed by the submission of one piece of coursework, which will be electronically submitted at the conclusion of the module. The assessment of the module will address both theory and practice:-

• • Critically reflective essay.
    Guideline wordage: 4,000 words. (Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3)

The essay will be a critical reflection on a chosen aspect of professionalism, professional identify and/or ethics, describing and exploring issues of support and process, with reference to relevant scholarly literature. It is expected that the essay will also include critical discussion of the multi-factorial influences and challenges, and the impact on self as professional role model.

• In addition to the formal course-work assessment, a minimum of 70% of online activities must be completed. There is an expectation that these online activities will feed into the formal assessment task.

On successful completion you will:

• Critically examine key attributes of professionalism and professional identity within their own discipline, giving consideration to how this is maintained and integrated within the multi-professional workplace.
• Critically reflect on their own responsibilities and accountability in supporting and developing professional practice and behaviours in self and others.
• Critically appraise challenges relating to ethical aspects of professionalism in healthcare, including local influences and cultures, contradictions, ambiguities and common misconceptions.

Study dates and venues

How to apply

Module availability varies from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Due to the popularity of some modules it may be that the module is fully booked when your application is received. We will include your details on a waiting list and allocate you a place on the next available intake.

We encourage you to apply as early as possible to give you the best chance to obtain a place on your preferred cohort, module applications will close as soon as the module is full. Applications received within two weeks of the start date may have to be considered for a later cohort.

For details of how to apply, please visit the apply page.

Contact us

For further module information, please contact the Medical School via email on [email protected].

Pathways

• MA Clinical Education
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
• MSc Leadership Development