As a member of the healthcare profession, there are many responsibilities that an individual has to other members of the profession. Some of these are universal in all professions whereas others are very specific to healthcare. For example, being on time and a productive addition to the team would be considered a universal responsibility in any field, but in the healthcare profession, even these concepts must be evaluated with a deeper understanding of the internal and external implications to one another and to the patients who are under medical care.
Schmer (2003) explains that, in the healthcare profession, there has to be a sense of support between the members of the staff in order to maintain the necessary level of care. Being understaffed can lead to unnecessary mistakes that could be life threatening. Even a distressed member of the team can become distracted and place the entire staff and patient load at risk. In this, it is the responsibility of all members of the profession to lend a hand to one another, be present, and be aware of the mindset of one another. Additionally, it is also the responsibility of the healthcare professional to make another member aware if they are unable to stay focused on the task at hand for any reason.
As the changes in healthcare have led to an increased accountability for the members of the healthcare profession, the discussed responsibilities have not only remained but have increased in severity. For instance, a facility that is understaffed due to absences is at a greater risk for accidents or never events to occur. Each member that is present is then potentially liable for these events. Therefore, it is more critical now than ever that members of the healthcare profession take the advice of author Schmer (2003) and “care for each other like you care for your patients” (pg. 10).
- Schmer, C. (2003). Care for each other like you care for your patients. Rn, 66(1), 10-13 2p.
