Essay on Professional and Interprofessional Identity

Professional identity guides healthcare students in discerning their roles and establishing effective interpersonal relationship strategies through social identities. The current changes in healthcare require healthcare professionals to apply collaborative skills to enhance innovation in healthcare, focusing on organization, leadership, quality, and management. Incorporating these aspects helps in improving healthcare professional education. Reflection among the healthcare profession renders understanding the significance of professional education and roles based on the experience gained and the available opportunities, leading to professional identity. This essay reflects on professional and interprofessional identity based on best practices in healthcare professional education.

The complexity of healthcare due to emerging diseases and the role of clinicians in quality care delivery requires professional identity—applying conceptualized and theoretical aspects to guide healthcare in enhancing the best practices. Collaborations among healthcare professionals are among the best practices that enable interprofessional identity. According to Tong et al. (2020), measuring, theorizing, and conceptualizing professional and interprofessional identities render healthcare students and professionals identify with a specific specialty based on the concepts learned. Consequently, the established collaborations reflect on positive outcomes experienced through interprofessional practice in healthcare.

Comprehensive research is essential in promoting professional and interprofessional identity. Tong et al. (2020) claim that health education requires students to engage in lifelong learning for improved competencies identified with their profession. Research is the foundation of professional and interprofessional development and identity, exposing students to concepts fostering best education practices. Consequently, medicine and nursing students can identify with a specific group and discern their particular roles in enhancing quality care, healthcare organization management, and leadership. Identifying individual roles promotes interactions among healthcare professionals based on the permeable identity boundaries established through professional education.

Incorporating theories based on professional identity is a critical aspect reflecting best practices for in healthcare setting. The practical approaches in healthcare to foster professional identity include sociology, education, and psychology (Tong et al., 2020). Professional education is essential in professional essence, guiding students in understanding the comparable aspects that suit them in interprofessional practice. Learning exposes individuals to knowledge, skills, and competencies that identify with a specific professional role that characterizes professional identity. Psychology and sociology aspects are the foundations for interpersonal relationships that are the foundation for interprofessional practice (Tong et al., 2020). The theoretical ideas improve professional skills while promoting human relations essential for interprofessional identity. They establish a sense of belonging among healthcare professionals, leading to professional teams that identify with specific duties in healthcare.

Learned concepts are significant in determining and retaining the best practices for identity. Tong et al. (2020) state that applying concepts based on professional education renders students having a sense of satisfaction and belongingness founded on the experiences. Consequently, healthcare professionals have confidence in their various roles that lead to professional identity. Additionally, the experiences among healthcare professionals predispose to collaboration through interdependence as a knowledge-sharing domain. Subsequently, this practice results in interprofessional identity. According to Tong et al. (2020), the factors influencing interprofessional identities such as social-cultural aspects and education establish a solid background for enhancing identity. These elements enhance individuals identifying the appropriate groups that will mentor self-concept and promote like-mindedness in a group. Consequently, health professionals can identify with these groups, rendering self-growth and motivation based on various tasks.

Professional and interprofessional identities are significant in understanding professional and interprofessional roles among healthcare students. Identifying with a specific function or practice fosters a sense of belongingness and satisfaction, enhancing performance and motivation. These aspects are essential in improving innovation and decision-sharing among healthcare professionals. However, incorporating the best practices through concepts, theories and research are crucial in promoting professional and interprofessional identity.

Reference

Tong, R., Brewer, M., Flavell, H., & Roberts, L. (2020). Professional and interprofessional identities: a scoping review. Journal Of Interprofessional Care, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2020.1713063