Standards of Honor and Professional Conduct
The Standards of Honor and Professional Conduct Policies are guided by the mission and vision statements of our institution. Upon entering this institution, the Essential Values are expected to be our common understanding.
Physician Assistants are called to the highest standards of honor and professional conduct. Understanding that this responsibility begins not upon graduation but rather at the inception of one's medical education, the students of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine uphold the following standards which serve as an embodiment of conduct and integrity. These standards strive to foster an atmosphere of honesty, trust, and cooperation among students, instructors, patients, and society.
Behavior considered appropriate for a career in medicine includes, but is not limited to, honesty, trustworthiness, professional demeanor, respect for the rights of others, personal accountability, and concern for the welfare of patients. In these areas, PA students are bound by:
· Honesty
o be truthful in communication with others.
o refrain from cheating, plagiarism, or misrepresentation in the fulfillment of academic requirements.
· Trustworthiness
o maintain the confidentiality of patient information
o maintain confidentiality of student assessment/evaluation information
o admit errors and not intentionally mislead others or promote ourselves at the student peer, professional colleague, or patient's expense.
· Professional demeanor
o be thoughtful and professional when interacting with patients, their families, our professional colleagues or student peers.
o strive to maintain our composure under pressures of fatigue, professional stress, or personal problems.
o avoid offensive language, gestures, or inappropriate remarks with sexual overtones.
o maintain a neat and clean appearance, and dress in attire that is reasonable as a student and accepted as professional to the patient population served.
· Respect for the rights of others
o create an atmosphere which encourages learning, characterized by cooperative relationships to my student peers and/or to the patient population served.
o deal with professional, staff, and peer members of the health team and in my study groups in a considerate manner and with a spirit of cooperation.
o act with an egalitarian spirit toward all persons encountered in a professional capacity, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual preference, socioeconomic status or educational achievement.
o respect the right of patients and their families to be informed and share in patient care decisions.
o respect patients', standardized patients’ or peers’ modesty and privacy.
o respect the diversity of learning styles within my student class
· Personal accountability
o participate in our study groups and class assignments responsibly to the best of our ability
o participate responsibly in patient care to the best of our ability and with appropriate supervision.
o undertake clinical duties and persevere until they are complete.
o notify the responsible person if something interferes with our ability to perform clinical tasks effectively.
· Concern for the welfare of patients
o treat patients, their families and our peers or professional colleagues with respect and dignity both in their presence and in discussions with others.
o consider what is hurtful or helpful to patients and use that as a guide for participating in patients' medical care.
o consider what is hurtful or helpful to our student peers and use that as a guide for participating in our study groups
o discern accurately when supervision or advice is needed and seek these out before acting.
o recognize when our ability to function effectively is compromised, and ask for relief or help.
o avoid the of use alcohol or drugs in a way that could compromise patient care or our own performance.
o avoid engaging in romantic, sexual, or other non-professional relationships with a patient, even upon the apparent request of a patient.
Updated 5/08*