Professional Attitudes and Behaviors: The “A’s and B’s” of Professionalism

Although professionalism is an elusive concept, it is defined by sets of attitudes and behaviors specific to professions. Further defining and describing these professional attitudes and behaviors the “As and Bs” of professionalism will help academic programs to develop and measure them in their students. The development of professional attitudes and demonstration of professional behaviors are key factors in the practice of pharmaceutical care and maintenance of pharmacy’s status as a trusted and respected profession. This paper offers definitions of professionalism, professional attitudes and professional behaviors, describes their specific components, identifies educational impacts upon them, shares ideas on how to foster and measure them, and describe barriers to their development. Most of the paper will discuss these issues in relation to students in academic programs; where appropriate, however, the discussion will also involve faculty members and other personnel.