Practicing decency in a fast-paced world.
Decency. The social respect and professionalism that bind us together as nurses. But I’m beginning to think that there isn’t enough of it today. We’re too busy and too distracted to practice the habits and professional behaviors we’re well aware of. Just think of the speed at which everyone is living. We’re constantly moving to the next thing, and living in the moment of cell phones, notification alerts, and emails too numerous to count. When we don’t make eye contact or really listen to what another person is saying, true communication is lost along with compassion—a fundamental nursing practice.
What’s driving such phrases as “Pretend until you become” and “Fake it ‘til you make it”? Is it possible to play a role but not identify with it? What are the psychological mechanisms driving and sustaining nursing identity? How do nurses learn how to behave, think, and act professionally?
“Professionalism and professional identity,” a feature article included in this issue, tees up some important concepts to help us think through these questions. I read with interest how the authors link professional identify formation with nurse well-being. They note that fostering the formation of nursing professional identity in education, practice, and regulation could be the solution to improving workplace environments. The authors also emphasize that nurses’ health, well-being, work satisfaction, and retention must be promoted in all work environments. It seems so logical, doesn’t it? But professional identity isn’t just acting professionally; it requires dedicated efforts by an organization to sustain the four domains that encompass nursing professional identity: values and ethics, knowledge, nurse as leader, and professional comportment.
I add decency to these domains. If practiced every day, decency contributes to less incivility, harassment, and bullying, and ultimately, supports well-being. I want to be clear—I recognize the extent of professionalism and decency that exists in nursing and the healthcare industry overall. However, we could use more.
We should call out people who don’t act professionally or show decency and make them aware of the impact of their adverse behaviors. Schools, residencies, internships, clinical rotations, and continuing education courses should teach these skills, as should supervisors, managers, and executives. Collaborating on doing good, practicing civility, and improving our professionalism skills to effect positive change could have a huge impact on individuals, as well as our collective identity. We should treat everyone (our team, our patients, our community) with decency, dignity, and respect.
Charles Lauer, long time editor-in-chief of Modern Healthcare, wrote in his book Decency, “Decency is about doing the right thing and being a good person.” Simple words to inspire us and support professionalism. It’s never too late to practice decency, no matter how busy we are.
Lillee Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FAAN
Editor-in-Chief
References
Dubree M, Kapu A, Terrell M, Pichert JW, Cooper WO, Hickson GB. Promoting professionalism through awareness. Am Nurse Today. 2017;12(6):6-8. https://www.myamericannurse.com/promoting-professionalism-awareness/
Dubree M, Kapu A, Terrell M, Pichert JW, Cooper WO, Hickson GB. Promoting professionalism by sharing a cup of coffee. Am Nurse Today. 2017;12(5):18-9. https://www.myamericannurse.com/promoting-professionalism-by-sharing-a-cup-of-coffee/
Dubree M, Kapu A, Terrell M, Pichert JW, Cooper WO, Hickson GB. Nurses’ essential role in supporting professionalism. Am Nurse Today. 2017;12(4):6-8.
Gelinas LS. Professionals, pyramids, and Peter Pan. Am Nurse Today. 2017;12(5):4. https://www.myamericannurse.com/nurses-essential-role-supporting-professionalism/
Gelinas LS. Addressing the disrespect disconnect using the pyramid approach. Am Nurse Today. 2017;12(4):4. https://www.myamericannurse.com/using-a-pyramid-to-address-the-disrespect-disconnect/
Lauer CS. Decency. Bozeman, MT: Second River Healthcare Press; 2005.
American Nurse Journal. 2024; 19(9). Doi: 10.51256/ANJ092404
