Initial Prompt
Dental hygiene professionals are responsible for upholding ethical standards when practicing to avoid any potential malpractice. The code of ethics provides enforceable standards of minimally decent conduct and indicates general terms professionals must consider when deciding conduct. It is used to describe the essential characteristics of a true dental hygienist and for personal self-regulation. The professional code of ethics binds the group members together by expressing the goals, aspirations, and defining standards of behavior; in other words, it is a contract the profession makes with society. As a dental hygienist, the professional code of ethics includes personal integrity, dedication to the profession/patients, and moral behavior. It is reasonable to believe codes of ethics work in healthcare settings because professionals, at their core, are assumed to believe in the greater good and are obligated to do good and regulate their profession. Ethical codes are not legal mandates but are still enforced through self-regulation by professional authorities. They create a relationship among professionals similar to a family, lessening the need for outside enforcement.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) created the first ethical code for dental hygienists in 1927. The dental hygienist has seven sections of the ADHA code of ethics: preamble, purpose, key concepts, basic beliefs, fundamental principles, core values, and standards of professional responsibility. Each of these seven sections provides a statement of ethical behavior the public can expect from dental hygienists. The last section, the standards of professional responsibility, has nine subcategories: to ourselves as hygienists, to ourselves as professionals, to family and friends, to clients, to colleagues, to employees and employers, to the dental hygiene profession, to the community and society, and to scientific investigation. Each subcategory has ethical standards that an individual should uphold to be a true dental hygienist and for personal self-regulation. Ethical standards must be upheld in the dental hygiene world and in one’s personal life to promote growth and safe spaces for everyone.
Reflective Response
The scholarly article I chose to compare and contrast my thoughts on ethics is titled Factors Influencing the Professional Identity of Student and Licensed Professional Members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. This study aimed to investigate the role membership in the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) plays in developing and sustaining professional identity and to explore whether differences exist between how students and licensed professionals perceive this role. The results of this study revealed that member benefits in the ADHA positively influenced the professional identities of students and licensed professionals. It also showed that dental hygiene students value benefits that support their roles as future healthcare professionals when licensed professionals identify evidence-based resources and advocacy efforts as instrumental in sustaining their professional identity. In my initial prompt, I mentioned that the dental hygienist has seven sections of the ADHA code of ethics: preamble, purpose, key concepts, basic beliefs, fundamental principles, core values, and standards of professional responsibility. All healthcare professionals must uphold their ethical responsibilities regardless of whether they are students or licensed professionals. Licensed dental hygienists maintain and promote the ADHA code of ethics compared to student dental hygienists, but why? To be an influential collaborative team member, one must clearly understand one’s professional identity to confidently participate with other professionals to provide improved healthcare outcomes for patients. Many students need more experience to feel comfortable or clearly understand their professional identity. Such things come with significant time and expertise; however, upholding ethical requirements is the student’s responsibility.
Eagle, I. T., Hohneck, S. L., VanDuine, S. M., Fitzgerald, M., & Kinney, J. S. (2022). Factors Influencing the Professional Identity of Student and Licensed Professional Members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 96(5), 52–61.
In terms of the UNE Dental Hygiene Program Outcomes, my learning of ethics and professionalism has demonstrated achievement of one very significant learning outcome. This learning outcome states that the student must “provide care to all patients using an individualized approach that is humane, empathetic, and caring.” As a dental hygienist, upholding our ethical responsibilities is essential for providing our patients with the utmost care. Ethics and professionalism aim to ensure that healthcare professionals understand that their patients are no different than we are and that we are all equal. Everyone deserves and has the right to be treated with dignity, respect, equity, and integrity. Dental hygienists are often the patient’s first step toward the correct treatment. No one should be refused treatment.
