Professionalism In Physical Therapy: Core Values

The questionnaire, Professionalism in Physical Therapy: Core Values, evaluates several values such as accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility. Before taking this questionnaire, I thought of myself as being rated very highly in many of these categories. After careful evaluation, individually and with a partner, I lowered some of the core values rating of myself, while confirming the high rating of myself in other areas.
When trying to incorporate core values into one’s life, professional duty and social responsibility must be actively pursued. These values will just not passively find their way into my life. Before doing the questionnaire, I thought that I had at least

an above average sense of professional duty and social responsibility, and rated myself relatively high on the questions. However, after analyzing myself critically and discussing the questionnaire with a partner, I realized that I do not strive to grow in professional duty and social responsibility on a consistent basis. Becoming aware of this made me score myself lower on the professional duty and social responsibility core values. Regarding the Affective Domain of Blooms Taxonomy of Learning, I feel that I fall within the “responds to phenomenon” domain for professional duty and social responsibility. While I understand the importance of the need helping the community and my professional duty, I need to apply the use of those values within my life on a frequent basis rather than just passively coming across opportunities. With the application of these values in my life I could progress through Blooms Taxonomy of Learning into higher domains and begin valuing the opportunities, organizing, and internalizing the values.
Another interesting value of note, is that the measure of altruism at this stage in my physical therapy education is difficult to measure according to this questionnaire.

When I came across the altruistic core value, I thought to myself that “of course I am an altruistic person and put the needs of other first.” After analyzing the questions on more than a superficial level, it came upon me that I had not really done anything to prove my altruistic believe of myself in a physical therapy setting. Many of the questions within the category have to do with what a currently practicing physical therapist do, so I could only answer the questions in what I aspire to become. While I would like to think, I would put the patient’s needs first in every single situation as a physical therapist, at this stage in my education I can only make assumptions and believes that I will practice altruistically. This lead me to change my score on the altruistic core value of the questionnaire. While applying the Affective Domain of Blooms Taxonomy of Learning to the altruistic value, I had difficult in placing myself in a certain domain, due to the above stated reasons. When I become a practicing physical therapist I would like to fall within the highest level, which is internalizing values. I feel that is important to internalize the value of altruism as a health care practitioner. A healthcare provider need to always be advocating for the patient and have the patient’s interest in front of their own self-interest. In order to enhance my altruistic potential as a future physical therapy, I plan on always keep my own self interests in check and actively pursue opportunities to aid

others.
Within the questionnaire, I consistently rated myself highly in accountability. I find myself being able to check my own accountability well on my own without reminders from others, can self-direct my responsibilities, and keep up with my studies without the need for feedback from instructors. Within my group assignments in physical therapy school, I always show up on time and do the work that has been delegated to me. I would feel disappointed in myself if I was not accountable to the group and did my fair share of work. My analysis and discussion with my partner confirmed my belief of accountability within myself. Applying the Affective Domain of Blooms Taxonomy to the core value of accountability in my life, I feel that I am within the internalizing values level. This is because I consistently show a pattern of accountability in my lifestyle, and influence others to be accountable as well. I will maintain this level of accountability by maintaining commitments to others, as well as myself.
Assessing core values consistently is an important to do as a health care providers, in order to ensure you apply core values on a frequent basis. The ability to critically evaluate one’s self, discuss your own assessment, and take constructive criticism in an acceptable matter. Before taking the questionnaire, Professionalism in Physical Therapy: Core Values, I thought of myself highly in many of these categories, but critically analyzing brought forth a true understanding of where my core values are actually held in my life.