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E-Portfolio Essential VIII: Professionalism and Professional Values

Hai-Duong Nguyen

Frostburg State University

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e-Portfolio Essential VIII: Professionalism and Professional Values

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) created the Essentials of

Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (2008), a document providing nine

Essentials, a curricular framework that outlines the expected outcomes of graduates of baccalaureate

nursing programs. (AACN, 2008, p. 3) This passage will focus on Essential VIII: Professionalism and

Professional Values -an explanation of Professionalism (and its application to the professional nurse)

and the significance of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice- and the

importance of its mastery to the nursing practice throughout the baccalaureate program. As noted by

the AACN (2008), professionalism is defined as the consistent demonstration of core values evidenced

by nurses working with other professionals to achieve optimal health and wellness outcomes in

patients, families, and communities by wisely applying principles of altruism, excellence, caring,

ethics, respect, communication, and accountability (Interprofessional Professionalism Measurement

Group, 2008). Professionalism further includes accountability: the nurse shall pursue professional

growth and development by maintaining lifelong learning/competency, professional engagement, and

responsibility- one is held liable for their practice, actions, and behaviors and shall delegate appropriate

tasks to provide proper patient care. (AACN, 2008, p. 26). Throughout the program, mastery of the

Essential will be incorporated within one's nursing practice as the individual will utilize fundamental

values- altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, and accountability- to cultivate the

therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient to optimize patient care and well-being for all

individuals.

Exemplar

My Hot Topic paper Analysis of the Controversy Surrounding Selective Reduction and

Multifetal Pregnancies (Nguyen, 2015) presented the controversial topic regarding selective reduction

of fetuses in a multifetal pregnancy due to the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology. The
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components of the assignment were to look at the legal and ethical principles surrounding the topic, its

impact on healthcare professionals/patients rights and responsibilities, and its influence on

contemporary and end-of-life decisions. My paper presented the legal precedents surrounding the topic

and examined ethical viewpoints that healthcare providers and patients considered when faced with this

dilemma. The paper also declared a position statement reflecting personal ethical viewpoints supported

by ELI results and preferred ethical theory. I felt like this assignment showed proficiency and

knowledge gained in this course, therefore I chose this composition as exemplar to prove mastery of

Essential VIII.

Reflection

My Hot Topic paper relates to Essential VIII through the quality and result of the discussion.

The AACN's rationale for Essential VIII stated that inherent in professional practice is an

understanding of the historical, legal, and contemporary context of nursing practice. (AACN, 2008, p.

26) Additionally, professionalism as stated above is driven by demonstration of core values by applying

altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, and accountability to achieve optimal

health and wellness (AACN, 2008, p. 26) Comparably, my paper demonstrated these standards of

professionalism and professional values as evidenced by the quality and result of the discussion. My

Hot Topic paper exhibited professionalism and mastery of Essential VIII when it reviewed the origins

of Assisted Reproductive Technology, and subsequently the legality and concern for end-of-life

decisions that arise from use of selective reduction due to multifetal pregnancies. Another instance

where I exhibited mastery of Essential VIII was when my paper incorporated professional values when

examining the healthcare provider and patient relationship. An example of these values is found in my

discussion of bioethical principles which consists of autonomy, nonmaleficience, beneficience, and

justice. The paper discussed how the principles are utilized to govern selective reduction when

healthcare professionals provide care for a multifetal pregnancy and acknowledges a woman's right to
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reproductive choice, viewpoint, actions, resources, and many more. Lastly, my paper relates to

Essential VIII in that my position statement and the supportive details are aligned with the standards of

altruism- I support the use of selective reduction in multifetal pregnancies in the defense to advocate

and save a mother's life and utilized the Rights and Responsibility lens and utilitarian ethics to justify

my position. These are the justifications for how my Hot Topic paper is reflective of my mastery of

Essential VIII.
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References

Essential VIII: Professionalism and Professional Values. (2008). In The Essentials of Baccalaureate

Education for Professional Nursing Practice. Washington, D.C.: American

Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Interprofessional Professionalism Measurement Group (2008). Interprofessional professionalism:

Whats all the fuss? Presented at the American Physical Therapy Meeting on February 7,2008

in Nashville, Tenn.

Nguyen, H. (2015). Analysis of the Controversy Surrounding Selective Reduction and Multifetal

Pregnancies. Unpublished manuscript. Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD