Professionalism

The faculty of the PA Program recognize its responsibility to present candidates for the PA degree that have the knowledge and skills to function in a wide variety of clinical situations and to render a broad spectrum of patient care. (Accreditation Standard B2.19)

Students will exhibit professional behavior toward other student learners, Butler University administration, faculty/staff, preceptors, and patients in all interactions, both in-person and electronically. Professionalism is a required component of each course. The following are evaluated to assess every student in the PA Program. The evaluation occurs at every faculty meeting, at the completion of the rotation/experience, and at the end of every academic semester.

College Conduct Code

Unprofessional conduct on-campus or off-campus shall be sufficient grounds for the Student Professional Conduct Committee of COPHS to initiate a review. Students are expected to self-report their own potential violations of the conduct code, within 96 hours of the alleged event. See the College Student Handbook for full details, but unprofessional conduct includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

  1. Acts of Academic Dishonesty
  2. Incivility and unethical or otherwise unprofessional behavior
  3. Substance misuse
  4. Activities that may result in probation, revocation or suspension of any professional credentials
  5. Practicing without appropriate credentials
  6. Activities that may result in conviction of a drug related or alcohol related misdemeanor
  7. Activities that may result in the conviction of a felony
  8. Termination of employment or experiential rotation
  9. Sanctions as established by Butler University

Didactic Year

  • Appearance and attire
    • Wears attire consistent with the COPHS/Programmatic dress policy
    • Demonstrates appropriate personal hygiene and grooming
    • All fingernails must be trimmed to no more than 2 mm in length. No acrylic manicures.
    • Permanent bracelets are prohibited beginning in spring semester.
  • Preparation
    • Appropriately prepares for class
    • Submits assignments on time
  • Behavior/Attitude
    • Utilizes appropriate verbal tone when addressing faculty and staff
    • Demonstrates appropriate non-verbal communication when around faculty, staff, and fellow students
    • Does not negatively impact the learning environment in any way by his/her behavior
    • Takes constructive criticism well, and makes improvements as needed
  • Communication
    • Communicates professionally in verbal communications (e.g., oral presentations, patient interviews, verbal communications with faculty, staff, and fellow students)
    • Communicates professionally in written communications (e.g., written assignments, email communications, etc.)
    • Timely reporting of potential conduct code violations
  • Attention and Participation
    • Is attentive in class (i.e., does not frequently doze off, abuse electronic media, etc.)
    • Actively participates in class activities
  • Respect for Others
    • Attends and shows up on-time for class
    • Is not disruptive to classroom activities or to quiet study areas
    • Respects appropriate boundaries (e.g., space, hierarchy, etc.)
    • Demonstrates appropriate empathy/compassion for others, when indicated
    • Demonstrates appropriate respect when interacting with faculty, staff, and fellow students
    • Does not ridicule or harass others
    • Demonstrates appropriate sensitivity and is able to effectively interact with persons of different ethnicities, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and other diversities
  • Honesty
    • Does not cheat or plagiarize
      Does not provide fraudulent information
      Does not lie
      Reports witnessed professionalism violations of fellow classmates

Clinical Year

Students will exhibit professional behavior with preceptors, all members of health care teams, patients, and administrators at rotation sites. Students will also exhibit professional behavior with Butler University faculty and staff in all interactions, both in-person and electronically.

The following are evaluated to assess every student in the PA Program. The evaluation occurs at every faculty meeting, at the completion of the rotation/experience, and at the end of every academic semester.

  • Appearance and Attire
    • Wears attire consistent with established office/clinic protocol
    • Wears a Butler ID and/or site ID tag when in the clinical setting
    • Demonstrates appropriate personal hygiene and grooming
    • Piercings: No more than 1 pair of (stud) earrings. Nose, lip, eyebrow and tongue piercings are prohibited. Note: jewelry may be prohibited in some clinical settings (e.g. surgery)
      • Permanent bracelets are prohibited.
    • All fingernails must be trimmed to no more than 2 mm in length. No acrylic manicures.
    • Tattoos: all tattoos must be covered
  • Preparation
    • Comes appropriately prepared (e.g., knowledge, skills, orientation requirements) for rotation site duties
    • Brings all necessary medical equipment to the clinical site
    • Medical equipment is in good working order
    • Comes appropriately prepared for end of rotation meetings
  • Behavior/Attitude
    • Works cooperatively with others at the clinical site (administrators, clinicians, and medical staff)
    • Utilizes appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication when addressing and interacting with administrators, clinicians, medical staff, and patients
    • Takes constructive criticism well and makes improvements as neededDoes not negatively impact the teaching, learning, or patient care environment at the clinical site
    • Follows the rules and protocols of the clinical site (e.g., timeliness of medical records, countersignatures, office hours, scope of practice, etc.)
    • Is attentive to instruction offered by rotation site personnelActively participates in rotation site activities
    • Demonstrates self-directed, active learning
    • Follows the rules and protocols of electronic testing
  • Communication
    • Communicates professionally in verbal communications with administrators, clinicians, medical staff, patients, and PA program faculty and staff. (e.g., patient interviews, staffing, oral presentations, timely reporting etc.)
    • Demonstrates appropriate non-verbal communication when in the clinical setting
    • Communicates professionally in written communications (e.g., medical documentations, e-mail communications, etc.)
    • Listens effectively to patients, clinicians, and medical staff
    • Timely reporting of potential conduct code violations.
  • Confidential & Ethical Practice
    • Demonstrates behaviors that reflect ethical decision making
    • Demonstrates behaviors that reflect personal integrity
    • Maintains confidentiality of patient health information
    • Maintains confidentiality of other personal information, as requested
    • Adheres to the principles of informed consent
  • Respect, Sensitivity, & Compassion for Others
    • Shows up on time for rotation activities (rounds, meetings, etc.)
    • Is not disruptive to rotation activities or patient care areas
    • Respects appropriate boundaries (space, hierarchy, etc.)
    • Addresses others appropriately (by title and surname, unless otherwise instructed)
    • Demonstrates appropriate empathy/compassion for others
    • Demonstrates appropriate respect for clinicians, medical staff, patients, and other students
    • Demonstrates appropriate sensitivity and is able to effectively interact with persons of different ethnicities, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and other diversities
    • Is attentive at clinical sites (i.e., does not doze off, does not abuse electronic media, etc.)
  • Safety and Non-malfeasance
    • Does not intentionally or unintentionally create an unsafe or potentially harmful situation for him/herself or others at the clinical site
  • Honesty
    • Does not cheat or plagiarize
    • Does not provide fraudulent information
    • Does not lie
    • Reports witnessed professionalism violations of fellow classmates

Professionalism Violations

Professionalism violations identified by program faculty, staff, or preceptors will be referred by the Program Director for further evaluation to the Student Professional Conduct Committee. Faculty and the Program may cite professionalism violations when responding to regulatory questions or when providing recommendations for employment or privileges at institutions.

Deficiencies in any areas of professionalism will be brought to the student’s attention by his/her advisor, Director of Experiential Education, and/or Program Director in the form of written evaluations.

Remediation will be implemented where appropriate; however, violations could result in immediate probation, suspension, dismissal, or termination from the Program per the Professional Conduct Code. (Accreditation Standards A3.15 c and d) If a student is referred to the Student Professional Conduct Committee, it will be the intention of the PA faculty to seek a minimum of probation for the violation.

Honor Code

Students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that is above reproach at all times. (Accreditation Standard B2.19) Ethical conduct is one of the most important attributes of a competent health care professional. Students are accountable for their own professional behavior. They are also charged with reporting to the Program any unprofessional behavior or infractions of this honor code on the part of others.

Having adopted the high ethical standards of the PA profession, the Program expects that each student will complete all assignments on an individual basis unless otherwise directed by program faculty.

Violations of this honor code are a breach of the professionalism standards. All students will sign the following codes in the didactic (Appendix C) and clinical (Appendix D) year indicating the intention to comply with the code.

Oath of the PA

The PA profession has revised its code of ethics several times since the profession began. Although the fundamental principles underlying the ethical care of patients have not changed, the societal framework in which those principles are applied has. This is reflected in the Oath of the PA utilized by the Butler PA

Program. During the Master’s Hooding ceremony at the completion of the PA Program, students will publicly acknowledge their new responsibilities and affirm their pledge to clinical excellence and health care by reciting this Oath of the PA.

I pledge to perform the following duties with honesty, integrity, and dedication, remembering always that my primary responsibility is to the health, safety, welfare, and dignity of all human beings:

I recognize and promote the value of diversity and I will treat equally all persons who seek my care.

I will uphold the tenets of patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and the principle of informed consent. 

I will hold in confidence the information shared with me in the course of practicing medicine, except where I am authorized to impart such knowledge.

I will be diligent in understanding both my personal capabilities and my limitations, striving always to improve my practice of medicine.

I will actively seek to expand my intellectual knowledge and skills, keeping abreast of advances in medical art and science.

I will work with other members of the healthcare team to assure compassionate and effective care of patients. 

I will uphold and enhance community values and use the knowledge and experience acquired as a PA to contribute to an improved community. 

I will respect my professional relationship with physicians and other members of the healthcare team. 

I recognize my duty to perpetuate knowledge within the profession. 

These duties are pledged with sincerity and on my honor.