Professional Appearance & Behaviour

MSRA SJT Textbook: Professional Appearance & Behaviour

Professional Appearance and Behaviour (GMC)

This professional appearance and behaviour GMC guide explains how attire, ID, documentation, communication, and digital conduct are assessed in MSRA SJT scenarios.

🎥 Video Lesson (YouTube)

🎧 Podcast Lesson (Spotify / Apple / Amazon)

🎯 THE CORE PRINCIPLE

Professional appearance and behaviour are daily signals of reliability. They include policy-compliant attire and visible ID, respectful communication, accurate documentation, and safe digital behaviour.

In the SJT, you score when you:

• follow policy immediately
• communicate courteously and transparently
• avoid backdating or altering notes
• act professionally online and protect confidentiality
• escalate and document issues promptly

Maintaining trust is the highest priority.

The professional appearance and behaviour GMC standards prioritise identification, courtesy, and accurate records.

⚡ HIGH-YIELD ACTIONS (What Scores Points)

1. Follow attire/ID/IPC policy at all times.
2. Introduce yourself clearly and apologise briefly for delays.
3. Use addenda to correct notes — never backdate or edit originals.
4. Use official channels for communication; protect confidentiality online.
5. Act early on unprofessional behaviour and document objectively.
6. Remove/mitigate unprofessional social media content.
7. Explain delays and set realistic expectations for patients.
8. Keep documentation factual, neutral, and contemporaneous.

MSRA SJT frequently tests breaches of professional appearance and behaviour GMC through ID, delays, and documentation errors.

Even seemingly minor lapses (ID missing, quick selfie, casual edits) score poorly.

Digital conduct is a core part of professional appearance and behaviour GMC guidance.

💬 MODEL PHRASES (Use These in SJT Logic)

* “I’m sorry for the delay — I’ll make my ID visible and see you shortly.”
* “I’ll correct this using a dated addendum rather than altering the original entry.”
* “Let’s remove the post and review the social media guidance to protect confidentiality.”
* “Let’s keep clinical communication on official channels.”

Policy first • Open ID • Listen & apologise • Integrity in notes • Tidy/digital professionalism • Escalate early

📋 QUICK FAQ

Is appearance about fashion?
No — it’s about safety, identification, and public confidence. Follow local attire/ID/IPC policy.

Can I edit notes later?
Yes — via a dated, timed addendum. Never backdate or delete original entries.

Is posting from a corridor acceptable if no faces are visible?
Avoid posting from clinical areas entirely; signage and metadata can identify locations/patients.

What if I’m late to clinic?
Apologise, explain briefly, give a realistic timeframe, alert reception to update others, and document delays.

What if a colleague writes inappropriate entries?
Correct objectively, discuss privately, and escalate if needed.

Backdating notes directly breaches professional appearance and behaviour GMC standards.

📚 GMC ANCHOR POINTS

• Justify patients’ and public trust; maintain professionalism (GMP 2024).
• Be honest and trustworthy in professional/public communications.
• Protect confidentiality — including online postings.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records.
• Act respectfully and maintain appropriate boundaries.

💡 MINI PRACTICE SCENARIO

A patient is anxious in the waiting room. You are late, and your ID badge is not visible.

Best action: Apologise, introduce yourself clearly with visible ID, give a realistic timeframe, and alert reception to update others.

Why: Courtesy + identification + communication preserve trust.

Public trust is central to professional appearance and behaviour GMC expectations.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

✓ Policy + courtesy build trust
✓ Use addenda — never backdate
✓ No posting from clinical areas
✓ Identify yourself clearly
✓ Escalate and document concerns early

🔗 RELATED TOPICS

* → Upholding GMC Standards
* → Social Media & Digital Professionalism
* → Maintaining Professional Boundaries

📖 FULL PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Example SJT — Best of 3 (8 options; choose three)

Scenario: You’re running late to clinic. An anxious patient asks who you are and why they’re waiting; your ID is not visible.

Options A–H
A. Explain you’re busy and walk away
B. Apologise, introduce yourself, make your ID visible, give a brief timeframe
C. Say reception handles this and keep walking
D. Inform the nurse-in-charge and ask them to update waiting patients
E. Document the delay and plan your catch-up
F. Blame another department for overrunning
G. Ignore the question and call the next patient
H. Post online about “chaotic clinics”

Example SJT — Rank 5 (best → worst)

Scenario: A junior posts a selfie in scrubs on a public platform from a corridor outside a bay. No faces visible, but ward signage is present.

Options A–E
A. Ask them to remove the post, explain risks, signpost guidance, escalate if needed
B. Do nothing — “no patients shown”
C. Publicly reprimand them
D. Ask them to crop the photo and keep it online
E. Share the post to boost morale