The challenge to be a good healthcare professional

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Heloisa Picolotto Oliveira, 20 years old, a third-year student of medicine at Unicesumar, Paraná, Brazil. She is affiliated to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

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Every professional, independent of the area of occupation, should look for good training, initiative, communication, responsibility and technological information, which are necessary attributes for the evolution of his work. However, healthcare professional needs a differential, in addition to technical skills and knowledge, it requires an integrative and practical behavior whit interpersonal skill. In public health, there are essential skills for the professional to perform his function, choose an issue, ensure health promotion and server the general population, regardless of the workplace. Among the necessary principles are vigilance, prevention and disease control, management of material and human resources and development of public policies. One of these principles is based on continuity of work, being considered one of main values for the healthcare professional establish an interpersonal relationship, treating all the aspects of the patient´s health and not just his diseases. These affirmations ensure treatment benefits, such as ratability, reduce healthcare costs and create patient satisfaction. The healthcare means attention, care, responsibility and acceptance, regardless of the practicing of healthcare provided privately at home or in the hospitals, the good health professional must be understanding, empathic and tolerant, respect social, race and genre differences, practice equity and solidarity as virtue, besides determine responsibility as a moral requirement assuming the consequences of their acts. In the practice the interdisciplinary work, composed of doctors, nurses, psychologists, nutritionists, according to the need of each case. The process consists of team’s whit division of labor and responsibilities in search for an exchange knowledge around a work to be developed together. A powerful communication is essential for each team member to explain their assignments, opinions and contributes for consolidation of interdisciplinary relations. Therefore, it is necessary that all the professionals a search to improve their knowledge and experiences, develop a good communication, creativity and ability to make decisions, but specifically for health area, is essential to know how to apply the practice skills seeking an interpersonal work understanding the other according to their needs and individuality. About the author Heloisa Picolotto Oliveira, 20 years old, is a third-year student of medicine at Unicesumar, Paraná, Brazil. She is a local coordinator of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) Brazil Unicesumar, partner of the LONE (Local Exchange Officer).