Fostering Professionalism: An Occupational Therapy Student Resource Guide

Professionalism is recognized as a complex and multifaceted core attribute to being a competent occupational therapist. Students and new practitioners often struggle with defining and applying the concept of professionalism in various practice and educational contexts. These difficulties when not addressed, can lead to poor academic performance, loss of professional status and reprimand from professional regulatory bodies. This innovative and interactive resource will provide consistent and explicit information to help foster the development of students’ professionalism throughout their academic career. It will compliment existing curriculum within the OT course, be based on evidence informed practice and help to consolidate the expectations from lecturers, fieldwork supervisors, industry and regulatory bodies. There are four sections of this resource book: Background and Introduction, Professional Image, Professional Communication and Professional Behaviour. Guided refection questions are located at the end of each chapter of the book. These help to promote deeper learning through applying the core concepts discussed in this book to the reader’s personal, academic and professional lives.