MHST601 Assignment 1 Reflection: Creating a professional identity, I can be proud to share

As a Registered Nurse (RN) in New Brunswick, I am licensed and registered as an active member of the Nurses' Association of New Brunswick (NANB). This professional body protects patients and the public by ensuring that nurses are fit to practice and are held accountable for any errors or omissions (NANB, n.d.). As an RN I am accountable for everything I do, and of course post on social media. 

Very early on in my career I used social media often, but I wouldn’t have done so as much relating to work. In my week one professionalism and social media audit, I discussed my early awareness that how I carried myself in real life and on social media could directly reflect on my professional reputation.

Thankfully, by the time social media was more mainstream I was taking education about the importance of censorship through my role as a local union president. I have supported members on more than one occasion who made choices that impacted their future as healthcare professionals. I learned that even actions perceived to be done on personal time could be held against an employee if considered a violation of employer policy.

As a professional, I believe people would describe me as a valuable team member who steps up when needed, is eager to learn and try new things, and maintains professionalism in all interactions and work. I would say that my professional identity is directly related to my professional values which include integrity, collaboration, effective communication, honesty, and respect just to name a few. Whether someone is googling my name, meeting me in my current role, or looking through my social media I want to uphold these values so I can be confident that what they find reflects my dedication to my role and the people I serve.

Although I’m not currently a people leader I’ve held many positions that have required leadership and involved interaction with multiple partner collaborators. I have carried these values with me in my past roles and attribute them to the success that I have had as a professional thus far.

Even though the type of people I work with have changed, and I don’t provide direct bedside care, I would never want an employer or someone I cared for to question the quality of work I provide because of a mistake made on a social media platform or while interacting with a colleague. One of the biggest challenges to upholding my professional identity has been dealing with abusive or aggressive patients. In the most difficult moments of my healthcare career, it has taken everything I have at some points to be able to walk away knowing I kept my cool and upheld my values. I can say with certainty that the education I’ve been afforded and the situations I have been a part of have greatly contributed to my ability to maintain composure when others might not be able to.

Moving forward after these audits, it is important for me to thoroughly examine my professional identity using the curation resources listed on my ePortfolio website. While I can see at first glance that the search looks acceptable, I want to be more aware of any possible content out there, so I can adjust my routines if need be. Committing to living my values everyday and continuing to have people see me as a respectable healthcare professional is essential to my career advancement and also to my own wellbeing.

References

Nurses Association of New Brunswick. (n.d.). NANB. Retrieved January 25, 2025, from https://nanb.nb.ca/en/