My profession is Physical Therapy, but my professional identity encompasses much more than this title. Professional identity involves more than the knowledge and skills acquired through clinical practice and education. According to Ohman, Solomon, and Finch (2002) professional identity results from professional socialization, during which we amass the knowledge and practical skills required for the profession, as well as an understanding of the norms, values and expectations that exist within the profession. Developing a strong sense of professional identity is crucial. In their study of healthcare professionals, Scanlan and Hazelton (2019) found strong positive correlation between one’s concept of professional identity and their job satisfaction, both of which corresponded with lower rates of burnout. I can relate to this: working in an acute care environment is stressful and I have seen excessive staff turnover in my department as a result. Those that have chosen to stay tend to have a solid understanding of who they are as a professional and how they fit in within an interdisciplinary team and in the healthcare system.
When I consider the professional identity that I aspire towards I see myself as someone who is a proven leader and strong advocate for evidence-based change & improvement within the healthcare system, as well as an advocate for vulnerable patients. From our class discussions, I am beginning to see the ways in which I can utilize social media platforms as a tool for advocacy and for promoting awareness or discussions relating to health and the healthcare system. Prior to starting this degree, I did not have any online professional presence; I now appreciate that my previous fear of the potential negative repercussions of social media use allowed me to inadvertently neglect my professional responsibility to educate the public.
Our professional values are part of what guide us towards our professional identity. McGinnis, Guenther and Wainwright (2016) pose that professional values are dependent on our personal values but are further influenced and shaped by work experiences. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has identified seven core values which they believe are essential for guiding therapists’ behavior: accountability, altruism, collaboration, compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility (APTA, 2019). While I relate to each, the values that I associate with most strongly are collaboration, compassion, and social responsibility. In my career I have chosen to work solely within the public sector as this aligns more with my values than working at a private clinic would.
In British Columbia, Physiotherapists are regulated under the Health Professions Act (1996). As a regulated health profession, I am held accountable to the Standards of Practice outlined by the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (2020). Although we work in a variety of settings, physiotherapists can be broadly differentiated by those working in the private versus public sectors. Under the BC Medicare Protection Act (1996) private physiotherapy services are only “covered” for individuals that qualify for income or disability assistance, at a maximum of 10 visits annually. However, I work in acute care and as such all services that I provide are publicly funded under the provincial Hospital Insurance Act (1996). This is because physiotherapy care in hospitals is considered “medically necessary treatment” under the definition provided by the Canada Health Act (1986) which requires that all such treatment be publicly funded. I am grateful that working in the public sector allows me to prioritize patients based on their overall need instead of their ability to pay for services.
I would argue that one’s choice of job setting or position is influenced by both our values and our professional identities. In my current role I work primarily with a frail geriatric population. This aligns well with my above stated values and professional identity goals, not only because of the public-sector values referred to above but also because I place strong value on social responsibility and advocating for marginalized populations. In North American culture, elderly individuals are often associated with being a financial and resource-related “burden” to society (Lovell, 2006). This stigma also exists among a substantial proportion of health professions (Happell & Brooker, 2001). I adore working with the elderly because I believe that I can make a genuine difference in their lives by helping them maintain or attain some level of independence. Part of my aim moving forward is to continue to advocate for this population using every tool available to me. My newly discovered appreciation for the use of social media is one way to do this.
American Physical Therapy Association (2019). Core values for the physical therapist and physical therapy assistant. American Physical Therapy Association website. https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/leadership-and-governance/policies/core-values-for-the-physical-therapist-and-physical-therapist-assistant
BC Medicare Protection Act, RSBC, c286, s25, (1996). Retrieved from https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96286_01
Canada Health Act, RSC 1985, c6. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-6/page-1.html
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College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (2020). Standards of Practice. https://cptbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CPTBC_Standards_2020_Nov27.pdf
Happell, B., & Brooker, J. (2001). Who Will Look After my Grandmother? Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 27(12). https://doi.org/10.3928/0098-9134-20011201-07
Health Professions Act, RSBC 1996, c183. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/00_96183_01
Hospital Insurance Act, RSBC, c204, s5 (1996). Retrieved from https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96204_01
Lovell, M. (2006). Caring for the elderly: Changing perceptions and attitudes. Journal of Vascular Nursing, 24(1), 22–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvn.2005.11.001
McGinnis, P.Q., Guenther, L.A., & Wainwright, S.F. (2016). Development and integration of professional core values among practicing clinicians. Physical Therapy, 96(9), 1417-1429. https://dx.doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20150189
Ohman, A., Solomon, P., & Finch, E. (2002). Career choice and professional preferences in a group of Canadian physiotherapy students. Advances in Physiotherapy, 4(1), 16-22. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/140381902317303177
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