Personal Qualities of a Health Care Worker Unit 3

Objectives: Explain how diet, rest, exercises, good posture, and avoiding use of tobacco and drugs contribute to good health Demonstrate the standards of a professional appearance as they apply to uniforms, clothing, shoes, nails, hair, jewelry, and makeup.

Personal and Professional Characteristics Certain personal attitudes, values, and rules of appearance apply to all health care professions. It is an appearance that inspires confidence and a positive self-image.

Personal and Professional Characteristics Research shows that within twenty seconds to 4 minutes people form an impression about a person based on their appearance. Video

Professional Standards Professional standards apply to most health careers Must be observed to create a positive impression

5 Factors That Contribute to Good Health Health care professionals promote health and disease prevention. A health care worker should present a healthy appearance. Diet Rest Exercise Good Posture Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drugs

Diet Eat well balanced meals Foods from 5 major food groups: milk, meat, veggies, fruits, bread, cereals, rice, pasta

Rest Adequate rest and sleep provide energy and stress management Amount required varies from individual to individual

Exercise Maintain circulation and improve muscle tone Helps mental attitude Contributes to a more restful sleep

Good Posture Prevents fatigue and puts less stress on muscles Stand strait Stomach muscles in Shoulders relaxed Weight balanced equally on each foot

Avoid tobacco, drugs, alcohol Affects good health Impairs mental function Can result in loss of a job

Q&A Does a uniform create an impression on a patient? Can the impression be poor? HOW?

Personal Appearance In health care it is importance to have a clean, neat and professional appearance. Know what rules are established at your place of employment

Professional Appearance Uniforms Clothing Name Badge Shoes Personal hygiene Nails Hair Jewelry Make up

Uniform Required Neat, well fitting, NO WRINKLES White/neutral undergarments Follow standards established

Clothing Neat, clean, in good repair Professional Style should allow for movement Appropriate for position Clean, neat, Washable fabrics best

Name badge Required as form of identification Name, title, department

Shoes White shoes may be required Fit well, provide support Clean frequently, replace as needed Stockings/compression socks

Personal Hygiene Close contact with others Control body odor Daily showers Deodorant Oral hygiene Clean undergarments Avoid strong odors Perfumes Scented hairsprays, lotions

Nails Clean and short Avoid color polish Long nails can injure the patient, can puncture gloves Avoid color polish Polish chips Conceals dirt under fingernails Use hand cream/lotion to prevent dryness

Hair Clean and neat Avoid fancy, extreme styles Pinned back and kept off collar Prevents hair from touching patient Avoids blocking vision during procedures

Jewelry Usually not permitted Can cause injury, transmit germs Watch, wedding ring, small pierced earrings Avoid earrings with hoops, dangling necklace Body jewelry is prohibited Nose, eyebrow, tongue Excessive jewelry detracts from professional appearance

Makeup Avoid excessive makeup Should be natural, attractiveness

Q&A What 5 main factors contribute to good health? List 3 rules pertaining to uniform. Why must nails be short and clean? Why should hair be pinned back?

Objectives: Understand personal and professional characteristics and attitudes that apply to all healthcare occupations Identify at least 5 characteristics of a health care worker that include personal as well as professional traits

Personal Characteristics Certain personal and professional characteristics and attitudes apply to all health occupations Make an effort to develop these characteristics and attitudes in your personality 13 personal characteristics

Personal Characteristics Empathy – being able to understand another persons feelings, situation, and motives Healthcare workers deal with all ages Understanding needs and learning effective communication is one way to develop empathy Video

Personal Characteristics Honesty – truthfulness and integrity are important in any career Patients, family members, co-workers must be able to trust you Must be willing to admit mistakes so they can be corrected

Personal Characteristics Dependability – employers and patients rely on you, so you must accept responsibility by being prompt to work and doing your job accurately and timely What situations require dependability??

Personal Characteristics Willingness to learn – You must be willing to adapt to change Changes occur with research, inventions, technological advances Additional education may be required CEU’s Lifelong learning allows to remain competent and keep knowledge of skills

Personal Characteristics Patience – tolerant and understanding deal with anger, control your temper Learn to deal with frustration and overcome obstacles Acceptance of Criticism – criticism can be constructive and allow you to improve your work Everyone has areas where performance can be improved

Personal Characteristics Enthusiasm – enjoy your work and display a positive attitude Contagious-helps you do your best, encourages others to do the same Focus on the positive and negative will not seem important

Personal Characteristics Self-motivated – ability to begin and follow through on a task. Set goals and work to attain them Able to determine things that need to be done without constant direction

Personal Characteristics Tact – the ability to do and say the kindest or most fitting thing in a difficult situation Everyone has a right to their own feelings Show consideration of feelings of others Workload example

Personal Characteristics Competence: qualified of performing a task Follow instructions Strive for accuracy Asks for guidance when necessary

Personal Characteristics Responsibility – willing to be held accountable for your actions. Discretion – use good judgment in what you say or do. Confidentiality is important. Team Player – learn to work well with others. Working together can accomplish a goal much faster than individually.

Summary All characteristics must be practiced Some take more time than others Strive constantly to improve Will help provide best patient care Will make you an asset to your employer Video

Teamwork

Teamwork Teamwork consists of many professionals, with different levels of educations, ideas, backgrounds, and interests, working together for the benefit of the patient. Provides quality care Improves communication and continuity of care. A leader is an important part of every team. Good interpersonal relationships are essential

Interpersonal Relationships Poor relations can harm quality of care, prevent team from meeting goals Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated!!” Ways to develop interpersonal relationships: Maintain positive attitude Be friendly Assist others when they need help Listen carefully Respect others opinions Be open-minded and willing to compromise Learn good communication skills Support and encourage other team members

Conflict Deal with in a positive way Meet, talk, identify the problem, listen, avoid hostility, determine a way to resolve the problem Use a mediator Must be resolved in order to meet goals

Summary Effective teams include hard work, patience, commitment, practice Why is teamwork important? Name 5 examples to develop good interpersonal relationships How should conflict be handled?

Professional Leadership The skill or ability to encourage people to work together and do their best to achieve common goals. A leader is defined as an individual who leads or guides others, or who is in charge to command others. In a group, every member who makes a contribution to an idea can be considered a leader. Leadership in a group passes from person to person as each individual contributes to the group’s goal.

Characteristics of a Leader Respects rights, opinions, abilities of others Understands principals of democracy Works with the group to achieve a goal Understands your own strengths and weaknesses Displays confidence Praises others, gives credit

Professional Leadership Leaders are frequently classified as one of three types based on how they perform their leadership skills. Democratic leader – encourages the participation of all individuals in decisions. Listens to others opinions. Bases decision on what is best for the group as a whole Laissez-faire leader – informal type of leader, will have minimal rules, group functions with little or no direction., leader is ”hands-off” Autocratic – often called a dictator, maintains total rule, makes all decisions, has difficulty sharing duties, does not ask for others opinion

Show your leadership and teamwork Simon Says Everyone must do whatever Simon says, as long as Simon prefaces his or her request with the phrase, "Simon says ..." So "Simon says, stand on one foot" must be complied with, but "Jump up and down" should not. Anyone who compiles at the wrong time is out. Last one in the game wins -- and, if you're willing to risk it, becomes the next Simon.

Stress Working in health care can be very stressful. Sometimes you will deal with life and death situations. How do you handle stress?

Stress Management Stress is defined as the bodys reaction to any stimulus that requires a person to adjust to a changing environment CHANGE always initiates stress

When you are stressed… Blood vessels constrict, resulting in cool skin, decreased production of urine Pupils dilate Saliva decreases, mouth becomes dry Heart rate increases Blood pressure rises Respiratory rate increases

Stress Stressors can be caused by internal or external forces. Internal stress – “heart attack,” cancer External stress – new job, marriage, divorce, test. Identify stressors, they can be eliminated

Problem-Solving Method Gather information or data Identify the problem List possible solutions Make plan Act on your solution Evaluate the results Change the solution

Stress Not all stress is harmful. A small amount of stress is essential to an individual’s well-being because it makes the person more alert and raises the energy level. Stress can cause positive feelings such as excitement, anticipation, self-confidence, and a sense of achievement.

Stress – How can you handle it? Stop: immediately stop what you are doing to break out of the stress response. Breathe: take a slow deep breath to relieve the physical tension. Reflect: think about the problem and the cause of the stress. Choose: determine how you want to deal with the stress.

Summary Stress is present in everyone’s life Be aware of stressors, practice techniques to reduce it Remember that patients experience stress! Identify a major stress in your life. What steps can you take to reduce it?

Time Management A system of practical skills that allows an individual to use time in the most effective and productive way possible Helps prevent or reduce stress First step is to keep an activity record Start to organize time based on information collected in activity record

Goal Setting A goal is a desired result or purpose toward which one is working Goals allow you to know where you are going and provide direction to your life Need both short term and long term goals

Short term goals Days, weeks, months to accomplish Smaller steps taken to reach long term goals Will change as one goal is accomplished and another goal is established

Long Term Goals Goals that take longer to achieve Take years or even a lifetime to achieve Examples??

Setting goals effectively State the goal in a positive manner Define the goal clearly Prioritize multiple goals Write your goals down Make sure the goal is at the right level!

Goals After the goal is achieved, you will enjoy a sense of accomplishment and satisifcation If you fail… Was the goal realistic? Did you lack skills or knowledge? Is there another way to achieve the goal?

Time Management Great tool to ensure success in meeting goals Schedule tasks: Use a daily planner Include time for rest, exercise, social activities “To-do” list : List tasks, cross off as completed Planning One thing at a time, have all materials needed, ask for assistance if needed

Summary Time management provides for an organized, efficient use of time Take credit for a job well done Overscheduling, rescheduling are common If goals are not reached, reevaluate and revise

Q&A What can help with time management? How do you determine if you use time effectively? What is the difference between long term and short term goals? How can you set effective goals??