What does professionalism look like? Attitudes and behaviours derived from a Delphi study
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What does professionalism look like? Attitudes and behaviours derived from a Delphi study

Judith Morgan Consultant nurse in emergency care, Neath Port Talbot Hospital Minor Injury Unit, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board
Wendy Hopkins Consultant nurse in emergency care, Emergency Department, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, and an honorary lecturer, Cardiff University
Susan Acreman Consultant professional dietetic adviser, Nutrition and Diet Resources UK, Glasgow, and an honorary lecturer, Cardiff University
Karen Jewell Consultant midwife in the women and children directorate, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Lynne Garwood Consultant nurse in serious mental health, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Pontyclun, Cwm Taf University Health Board, and visiting fellow, University of South Wales
Elizabeth Candy Consultant musculoskeletal physiotherapist, Aneurin Bevin University Health Board, Caerphilly, and an honorary lecturer, Cardiff University

Judith Morgan and colleagues describe work done to achieve consensus and set down a definition for nurses and midwives

In 2010, the chief nursing officer and nurse director for Wales commissioned a study to identify attitudes and behaviours associated with professionalism for nurses and midwives in Wales. The study was part of an exploration project of professionalism in nursing and midwifery. A Delphi study design was used to generate a consensus on the question ‘What does “professionalism” mean in terms of attitudes and behaviours for nurses and midwives in Wales?’ The question was put to an expert panel, comprising 27 members of the Consultant Nurse, Midwives and Health Professionals Forum and eight directors of nursing, using electronic questionnaires. The descriptors generated were subsumed into categories that were ranked, statistically tested and attributed a Likert-type score before consensus was achieved. The resultant categories and themes defined acceptable and unacceptable attitudes and behaviours, and enabled the development of an overarching short definition of professionalism. This carves a unique niche in the evidence base on professionalism and provides a tool for replicating the study in other countries and for other professional groups such as healthcare support workers, nursing and midwifery students and allied health professionals.

Nursing Management. 21, 7, 28-40. doi: 10.7748/nm.21.7.28.e1253

Correspondence

judith.morgan4@wales.nhs.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 17 September 2014

Accepted: 29 September 2014

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