Notes on Professionalism and Professional Leadership in Pharmacy

Who is Nadia Bukhari?

  • Associate Professor at UCL (University College London)
  • Roles and Contributions:
    • Admissions Lead
    • Global Pharmacy Ambassador for UCL
    • Experience in several countries: Greece, Poland, Oman, UAE, Portugal, Pakistan, Belgium, South Africa
  • Educational Background:
    • PhD focusing on leadership
  • Previous Positions:
    • Former member of the English Pharmacy Board
    • Former Chair for National RPS (Royal Pharmaceutical Society) Pre-Reg Training
    • Author for Pharm Press
    • Advisor at Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
    • Global Lead for Gender Equity at the International Pharmaceutical Federation
    • Founder and Patron of the National Alliance for Women in Pharmacy
    • Director at Equity Pakistan
    • Founder of Siha Health Wellness, Pakistan

Understanding Professionalism

  • Definition:
    • Merriam-Webster states professionalism is the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize a professional person. A profession necessitates specialized knowledge and significant academic training.
  • Personal Perspectives on Professionalism:
    • Paramedic: Professionalism encompasses all conduct from arrival to work until going home.
    • Occupational Therapist: Involves treating others with respect and empathy, addressing their concerns seriously.
    • Healthcare Professional: Values form the foundation of conduct, emphasizing decent behavior over mere job tasks.
  • Qualities of a Professional:
    • Specialized knowledge
    • Competency in tasks
    • Honesty and integrity
    • Accountability for actions
    • Self-regulation in professional practices
    • Maintaining a professional image

Professional Behaviours

  • Essential Attitudes:
    • Build expertise and enhance emotional intelligence
    • Honor commitments towards patients and colleagues
    • Uphold politeness in all professional interactions
  • Unprofessional Behaviours Include:
    • Failure to acknowledge patients outside of the professional context
    • Inappropriately sharing placement experiences on social media can lead to perceived unprofessionalism.

Regulatory Bodies

  • General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC):
    • Regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy premises in England.
    • Ensures fitness to practice for registered pharmacy professionals, addressing misconduct, competency issues, or health problems.
  • Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS):
    • Functions as both a regulatory and professional body, supporting the profession through guidance and resources.

Fitness to Practice

  • Criteria to Maintain Registration:
    • Registrants must demonstrate skills, knowledge, character, and health to practice effectively.
  • Consequences of Impairment:
    • Warnings, conditions on practice, suspension, or removal from the register can occur if fitness to practice is compromised.

Code of Conduct for Students

  1. Prioritize patient care.
  2. Use professional judgement in the public interest.
  3. Show respect for all individuals.
  4. Engage patients in their care decisions.
  5. Continuously develop professional knowledge.
  6. Be trustworthy and honest.
  7. Take responsibility for your practices.

Professional Misconduct Examples

  • Engaging in sexual relationships with patients
  • Claiming unqualified competency to practice
  • Falsely asserting credentials
  • Breaching patient confidentiality
  • Altering patient medical records
  • Dishonesty in practice

Case Studies of Misconduct

  • Behavioral incidents leading to disciplinary actions show various manifestations of professional misconduct, including serious criminal offenses and unethical practices in pharmacy.
  • Example Cases:
    • Individual with criminal convictions compromising practice standards.
    • Mishandling prescriptions negatively affecting patient safety.

Historical Context: Harold Shipman

  • Notorious case of Harold Shipman, a general practitioner convicted of serial killings, leading to a major overhaul in medical monitoring and regulation systems, including improved GP records, death certificate procedures, and monitoring of controlled drugs.