Professional etiquette 2012

Professional Etiquette


Professional etiquette means the rules and conventions governing correct or polite behavior in a specific professional group or situation.

Professional etiquette is applicable in any professional setting. It includes:

how you greet people

how you show respect to seasoned professionals

how you introduce yourself

how you network

what you wear

how you eat and drink with other professionals


Attention to and practicing professional etiquette can:

Improve the first impression you make as a nursing student and as a nursing professional.

Boost your confidence and credibility as well as help you avoid embarrassment in professional settings.

Move easily into different professional settings in the nursing field (e.g., clinical, academic, professional association settings, etc.)


Dress and Speak Appropriately

*YOU HAVE 7 SECONDS TO MAKE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION*

The following are general parameters of professional etiquette when it comes to how you dress in professional settings:

If you are not aware of how to dress for any environment, err on the side of over dressed.

Dressing more formally and conservatively is considered a sign of respect.

Ask, if you have the opportunity prior to arriving at the event, what the standard of dress is for that event or situation.


The following are general parameters of professional etiquette when it comes to how you speak in professional settings:

Listen first, then speak. Observe how others conduct themselves and take cues from those who are more familiar with the situation or event.

Use grammatically correct language and enunciate your words.

Speak slowly. Don’t let nervousness overcome you and speed up the pace of your speaking, make your voice squeaky or high pitched, or make every statement out of your mouth sound like a question.

Modulate your tone, listen to yourself and self-correct as you go.

If you speak with an accent, understand that others may not be used to the your cadence, pitch or syllables you accent – slow down.

Professional Etiquette in Clinical Settings

You will be entering clinical settings where you will be gaining valuable nursing experience. Professional etiquette would dictate that you:

Respect those who work there and honor their experiences. Ask about them. Get to know them. Ask questions about their experiences and ask them for feedback on how you do. Build relationships.–

Remember that you are there to help them FIRST and gain experience SECOND. Ask what is expected of you and offer to help. Approach the experience with a “giving” attitude, not a “getting”/WIIFM (what’s in it for me) attitude.


Remember that you are the lowest ranking person in the pecking order – you must make a good impression. Dress and speak appropriately.

Remember that if you have suggestions or questions about how or why something is done, ask when and where input might be appropriate to inquire or present suggestions (do not give unsolicited advice unless you’ve been given the opening or forum to do so).

Show what you can do by being responsible, capable and collaborative. Use questions to learn the why and how of things – don’t use verbal challenges when you disagree or are not sure of something.


Use language that indicates that you understand that you need to be part of the team. Determine what the team needs and balance that with what you need. Get clarification or help when you don’t understand something or are not clear on how you will get the experience you need.

Professional etiquette is learned by example, so keep your eyes and ears open!

Professional Etiquette Resources

Nursing Specific Professional Etiquette Resources

Pagana, Kathleen D., The Nurse's Etiquette Advantage: How Professional Etiquette Can Advance Your Nursing Career, Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (2008). Preview contents at: nursingknowledge.net/Portal/CMSLite/GetFile.aspx?ContentID=88738

Pagana, Kathleen D., Seven Tips to Improve Your Professional Etiquette, Nursing Management: Volume 41, Issue 1, p. 45–48 (January 2010). Available at: http://journals.lww.com/nursingmanagement/Citation/2010/01000/7_tips_to_improve_your_professional_etiquette.11.aspx

Professional Etiquette Resources

General Professional Etiquette Resources

Coleman, John, Professional Etiquette Guide (Harvard Business School 2009)www.bu.edu/law/ssi/jd/contacts/affairs/.../professional_etiquette.pdf

Burleson, Donald K., Business Etiquette for Professionals (2009) http://www.dba-oracle.com/consultant_etiquette_manners.htm

Dick, Thom, Professional Etiquette (EMS Responder 2008) http://www.emsresponder.com/print/EMS-Magazine/Professional-Etiquette/1$2266

Ghosh, Paramita, Professional Etiquette http://www.buzzle.com/articles/professional-etiquette.html

USAID, Professional Etiquette, http://www.ccfrussia.ru/?mod=s_page&sp_id=109

Technology

Professional etiquette 2012