Professional Practice, Ethics, and Communication
Core concepts
Understand scope of practice, credentialing, and professional standards. Know the principles of ethics: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and confidentiality. Recognize conflicts of interest, informed consent, and the obligation to refer when a situation exceeds competence. Communication includes plain-language and health-literacy-sensitive strategies, motivational interviewing (open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries), and cultural humility.
Traps in questions
- Assuming a credential permits practice outside its defined scope.
- Confusing motivational interviewing (collaborative, patient-directed) with advice-giving or persuasion.
- Overlooking confidentiality in team or digital settings.
- Failing to disclose conflicts of interest.
Rule of thumb
When a scenario involves a request outside your competence, the ethical response is to refer-not to improvise.
Worked example
A client asks for a supplement regimen for a medical condition beyond your scope: acknowledge the request, explain your scope, and refer to the appropriate professional while maintaining confidentiality.