Essay Example on Advancing General Surgeon Professionalism

Post 1: Future of General Surgeon Professionalism

As I have been working towards advancing my knowledge and experience in general surgery, the interaction with both the junior and senior professionals have changed my perception of the future of our specialization. The heterogeneous nature of the field of general surgery has impacted the changes, success, and shortcomings experienced in the line of duty and professional development. I have noted that the diversity in the pattern of experience can be traced to the nature of trained experts and their location of practice. In such a case, other specialists in the facility define which areas of expertise the deployed surgeons will concentrate to solve.

Moreover, general surgery training will remain one of the appropriate avenues that can be used to optimize the preparation of new professionals. While this method has been used for many years to enhance the level of professionalism, current trends indicate that there is a need for a more comprehensive approach that will guarantee attention and preparation. Nevertheless, the degree of transition to independent practice is inadequate, which calls for the incorporation of leadership competencies among surgeons. Therefore, with the desire to enhance quality, the training programs should concentrate on the increasing the level of exposure, adjusting residency programs, incorporating innovative teaching models, and technology application for efficiency.

Furthermore, the use of subspecialized training is another approach that can be used to enhance the level of expertise and experience among the new general surgeons attached to residency programs. In such a way, the concentration of skills is guaranteed. In my experience, I have noted that the move by most of the senior surgeons to undertake further training in a particular concentration is a critical consideration. Although some make this decision because of the employment-based reasons, the eventuality is linked to the development of mastery and excellence in the chosen areas.

Worth pointing out is that the future of general surgery is dependent on the recognition of the complexity of the specialization. Generalists should be identified as physicians with core abilities to carryout surgery-based interventions through broad-based practice. Although it is known that general surgeons carry out diverse, complex, but undifferentiated operations, their impact in restoring balanced skills in facilities where they are deployed is a significant component, which should be recognized when seeking to promote the generalists ethos. Such a move will ensure that the considerable roles of a general surgeon in trauma management as well as other urgent care conditions are incorporated in the appraisal frameworks.

Furthermore, I have also noted that another aspect that requires attention regarding the need to enhance the quality of service in general surgery is the element of equitable service delivery in the rural and urban setting. Studies and task forces have always pointed out the existence of countryside imperative in line with generalists deployment (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, 2004). However, for the impact of the surgeons to be recognized across the globe, then a balanced approach should be undertaken when disseminating professional to different facilities. While there is need to focus on skill deficiencies, emphasizing the need to decongest the urban centers is a dimension that should be incorporated during deployment.

References

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, 2004. The Future of General Surgery: Evolving to meet a changing practice: The Final Report of the Task Force on the Future of General Surgery. Date: February 2014. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons: Canada.

Post 2: Ethical Challenges in General Surgery based on My Experience

The responsibility of surgeons is not limited to the execution of different operative roles. The professionals are also morally mandated to have a good relationship with the patients and other colleagues. Cases where surgeons doubt the actions they should take when faced with a dilemma are common (Torjuul, Nordam, and Sorlie, 2005). In such a case, there is need to consider the action and relational ethics, which goes beyond the medical consideration. In many instances, the generalists have been presented with challenges associated with the ethical considerations within their workplaces. One of the critical questions that have been lingering in my mind is the manner in which the practitioners handle the ethical challenges without jeopardizing their relationships with either the patients under their care of colleagues. Several thoughts crossed my mind based on my experience in practice.

The perspective of action ethics is built around the question of what we are expected to do in a difficult situation based on the underlying reason. In most cases, this is founded on the tenets of professionalism and obligations, which is restricted to the scope of operation. Whenever a surgeon is presented with more than two alternatives with adverse consequences, then they are obliged to choose one option with the less adverse outcome. Cases of mutually independent practice decision presenting a conflict are also evident in practice, which contributes to the existence of decision conflict (Torjuul, Nordam, and Sorlie, 2005). On the other hand, the need to remain professional and to maintain the quality of practice is vital. Such considerations, therefore, call for the evaluation of both options, which sets the foundation for the selection of the less adverse choice.

Furthermore, relational ethics perspective allows the surgeons to focus on the challenges associated with respective experiences while interacting with the patient and fellow professionals. The objective of relational engagement is meant for the practitioners to build social connection and achieve their obligation beyond the ordinary operational undertakings. Although such elements have been restricted to solving the confrontations in relationships, competent surgeons should also depict the characteristics and virtues that define excellent human relations. Although little effort has been channeled towards achieving this aspect of professional development, having frameworks that incorporate these factor in working environment could reduce the level of conflicts witnessed among generalists. Nevertheless, relational and action ethics are not counteractive or interchangeable (Torjuul, Nordam, and Sorlie, 2005). Therefore, having independent guidelines that could be used to enhance professional-based working engagements as well as relational interactions is critical in reducing the level of conflict.

In conclusion, I have noted that ethical challenges emanated from the lack of harmonization of the practice provisions, which present loopholes for the existence of conflicts. On the other hand, failure to recognize that general surgeons are also a human being with the ability to create a relationship with different levels of engagement affect their capacity to overcome relational hurdles. In such a case, there is a need for the integration of the workplace social consideration for a harmonious existence among professionals in a facility as well as the patient-surgeon engagement for excellent healthcare outcomes.

References

Torjuul, K., Nordam, A, and Sorlie, V., 2005. Ethical challenges in surgery as narrated by practicing surgeons. BMC Med Ethics., Vol. 6, Iss. 2.

Post 3: Developing my Career as a Life-Long Learner

I believe that formal education and the resulting qualifications are significant in the development of the future career. Through training, I will maximize my potential in finding better and more satisfying opportunities and rewards that can be developed in surgery. The choice of profession has enormous impacts on the future knowledge and skills on an individuals life, which shows that schooling is part of learning. The acquisition of knowledge and set of skills developed through the training and experience indicates that education is unavoidable and should be continuous. However, I think the lifelong learning is enhanced by the creation and development of a positive attitude to learning at an individual or professional level. In such a consideration, I suppose that as a lifelong learner I will be captivated to learning and professional development because of my compulsion to new ideas. I will have a deliberate and voluntary approach to learning that will boost my achievement in the line of practice.

The learning experiences will enhance the increased understanding of the different cases of patients presented in operation room and how to incorporate both technical and nontechnical skills to improve performance. Such a move will enrich me with critical skills needed for the longevity of the career. More importantly, continued learning throughout life stages is suitable for the accomplishment of personal and professional development that increases opportunities in the for career growth. In my view, learning for my sake will enable individual benefits in different contexts of career development (McMahon et al. 2005). For instance, I will boost my self-esteem and confidence in carrying out the surgical procedures, reduce the risks encountered during the operations, adapt to the advanced medical technologies to improve performance. As well, I will develop fun surgery out of surgery and create a mechanism of challenging my ideas and beliefs that will enable me to achieve a more fulfilling life in the career. The experiences from learning help in appreciating the changes and improvement in professional that will simplify transitions in the career from one level to another or build on an area of specialization.

My perception of continuous learning will allow for the development of an active mind throughout my career life, which will allow for the articulation of challenges in my line of duty, like complexities in patients cases. Such a depiction can face some aspect of contradiction the development of dementia through the perceived focus on the line of work yet it has not been approved scientifically. Despite the slight possibility for the development of the condition, the activity of the brain will help in preventing bored throughout my life. Besides, I will accomplish my personal desired in medical research through the extreme focus on surgical operation, which is vital in the professional and career development. My willingness and readiness support the upfront to learning. In most scenarios, I tend to believe that being well-educated should not be limited to the only employment opportunities since it might negatively affect my focus on the area of duty. I suggest that the employers are likely to be attracted to properly balanced personalities in embracing the career.

Reference

McMahon, M., Watson, M., and Patton, W. 2005. Qualitative Career Assessment: Developing the My System of Career Influences Reflection Activity. Journal of Career Assessment, 13(4), 476-490.

Post 4: Experience of Being an Online Learner

My experiences as an online learner have been enhanced through personal commitment and participation on the virtual platform. Online learning presents various challenges that can be simplified or addressed in the physical classroom, where the impacts of the instructor and colleagues are felt. For example, some concepts need to be fulfilled through real-life experiences rather than pictures, like the human models and simulators used in practical sessions. The use of videos generated from surgical operations only gives the learner more knowledge on how the procedures should be conducted ra...