Unit 3 Personal Qualities of a Health Care Worker

3:1 Personal Appearance Important to present an appearance which communicates confidence and positive self- image First impressions are based on appearances and form quickly Rules about appearance may vary Certain professional standards apply to most health careers Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2

Good Health Health care involves promoting health and preventing disease Health care workers serve as role models Diet Rest Exercise Good posture Avoid use of tobacco and drugs Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3

Uniform Considerations Required in some health occupations Neat, well-fitting, clean, and wrinkle-free Choose undergarments that will not show Avoid extreme styles Follow standards established by place of employment Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 11

Regular Clothing Some occupations allow use of regular clothing in lieu of uniforms Must be clean, neat, and in good repair Style that allows for body movements Washable and less expensive to maintain Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 12

Other Considerations Name badge Shoes Personal hygiene Nails Hair Jewelry Makeup Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 13

Name Badge Name badge or photo identification at all times States name, title, and department Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 14

Shoes Well fitting and provide good support to prevent fatigue Clean, comfortable No heels Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 15

Personal Hygiene Essential Healthcare workers work in close contact with others so body odor must be controlled. Daily shower, deodorant, oral hygiene, clean undergarments Strong odors caused by tobacco, perfumes, scented products, etc can be offensive Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 16

Nails Short and clean Long nails can injure patients, transmit germs, tear through gloves Nail polish not allowed in some facilities bc can conceal dirt underneath Lotion may help hands from becoming dry from frequent handwashing Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 17

Hair Clean, neat, pinned back if long Prevents hair from touching patient, falling on a tray or equipment, or blocking necessary vision during procedures. Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 18

Jewelry Usually not permitted except small earrings, a ring, watch Can cause injury to patient and transmit germs or pathogens Hoops or dangling earrings should be avoided Body piercing detracts from a professional appearance and should be avoided Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 19

Makeup Avoid excessive makeup Should be natural and attractive Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 20

Summary Find out rules or standards established by agency Abide by the rules Maintain a neat, clean, professional appearance Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 21

3:2 Personal Characteristics Certain personal/professional characteristics and attitudes apply to all health occupations You should make every effort to develop these characteristics and attitudes and incorporate them into your personality Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 22

Personal/Professional Characteristics of a Healthcare Worker Empathy Honesty Dependability Willingness to learn Patience Acceptance of criticism Enthusiasm Self-motivation Tact Competence Responsibility Discretion Team player

Empathy Being able to identify with and understand another person’s feelings, situations, and motives.

Honesty Being truthful Having integrity Be willing to admit mistakes so they can be corrected

Dependability Because your patients and employers rely on you, you must accept the responsibility required in your job Do tasks accurately and on time Report to work on time

Willingness to learn Must be willing to learn and to adapt to changes

Patience Must be tolerant and understanding

Acceptance of criticism Patients, families, employers, and co-workers may criticize you. Some criticism is constructive and allows you to improve your work Don’t become resentful – be willing to accept criticism and learn from it

Enthusiasm Have a positive attitude! Show you enjoy your work Be an encouragement to others Concentrating on the positive can help diminish the negative points

Self-motivation Self-initiative Ability to begin or follow through with a task Determine what needs to be done and do it without constant direction

Tact Having the ability to say or do the kindest or most fitting thing in difficult situations Be considerate of other’s feelings

Competence Being qualified and capable of performing a task – Follow instructions – Use approved procedures – Strive for accuracy in all you do – Know your limits – Ask for help if you are not sure what to do

Responsibility Being willing to be held accountable for your actions Doing what you’re supposed to do

Competence Being well qualified Doing what you’ve been trained to do accurately and safely

Discretion Use good judgment in what you say and do Be discreet and make sure a patient’s rights are not violated

Team player One who works well with others In healthcare, you will always be part of a team – Each team member will have different responsibilities – Each will have to do his/her part to provide quality care

Summary Each characteristic must be practiced and learned By being aware of these characteristics and working on them, you will provide excellent patient care and be a valuable part of the healthcare team!

Summary All characteristics and attitudes must be practiced and learned Some take more time to develop Be aware of these characteristics Strive constantly to improve Will help you provide good patient care Will make you a valuable asset to your employer and others Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 39

3:3 Teamwork In any health care career, you will be part of an interdisciplinary health care team Team concept was created to provide quality holistic health care for every patient Teamwork consists of many professionals, with different levels of education, ideas, backgrounds, and interests, working together for the good of the patient Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 40

Teamwork Concepts Teamwork improves communication and continuity of care Every person on the team must understand the role of each team member A leader is an important part of any team Good interpersonal relationships are essential Legal responsibilities Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 41

Good Interpersonal Relationship Guidelines Poor relationships interfere with quality of care, goals, and work satisfaction Respect differences due to cultural and ethnic backgrounds, gender, age, socioeconomic status, lifestyle preference, beliefs, and levels of education Show sensitivity to the hopes, feelings, and needs of team members Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 42

Good Interpersonal Relationship Guidelines (continued) Golden Rule: treat others as you would want to be treated Have a positive attitude Be willing to laugh at yourself Be friendly and cooperative Assist others Listen carefully Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 43

Good Interpersonal Relationship Guidelines (continued) Respect the opinion of others Be open-minded and willing to compromise Don’t criticize others Practice good communication skills Support and encourage team members Perform your duties to the best of your ability Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 44

Conflict Resolution Deal with conflict in a positive way Meet with people involved to discuss it Listen to each other’s point of view with respect Avoid accusations and hostility Solve problems cooperatively Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 45

Conflict Resolution (continued) Sometimes a mediator may be needed Grievance policies define official process To meet team goals, conflict must be resolved Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 46

Summary Effective teams are the result of hard work, patience, commitment, and practice When each individual participates fully in the team and makes every effort to contribute to the team, the team achieves success Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 47

3:4 Professional Leadership Purpose: encourage people to work together and do their best to achieve common goals Definition of a leader Myths Characteristics of a leader Categories of leaders Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 48

Types of Leaders Democratic Laissez-faire Autocratic Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 49

Summary All types of leadership have advantages and disadvantages In some rare situations, an autocratic leader may be beneficial Democratic leader usually presented as most effective for group interactions Respecting the rights and opinions of others is an important guide for a leader Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 50

3:5 Stress Definition of stress Stressors What causes stress Sympathetic nervous system response Parasympathetic nervous system recovery Stress is universal Benefits of stress Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 51

Stress (continued) Negative effects of stress Learning to control stress Stressors – how to problem solve Managing stress reactions – Stop – Breathe – Reflect – Choose Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 52

Stress Reducing Techniques Live a healthy life Take breaks Relax with a warm bath Listen to quiet, soothing music Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and relax each muscle group Seek support from others Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 53

Stress Reducing Techniques (continued) Meditate Use imagery Enjoy yourself Renew yourself Think positively Develop outside interests Seek assistance or delegate tasks Avoid too many commitments Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 54

Summary Stress is constant and cannot be avoided Be aware of causes Learn how to respond Solve problems effectively Practice techniques to reduce Be mindful of patient’s stress Patient’s can use same techniques to cope Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 55

3:6 Time Management Definition Helps prevent or reduce stress First step is to keep an activity record Start to organize time based on information collected in activity record Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 56

Goal Setting Why set goals? Short- and long-term goals Completion of goals results in satisfaction, sense of accomplishment, and motivation to attempt other goals Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 57

Set Effective Goals State in positive manner Define clearly and precisely Prioritize multiple goals Write goals down Make sure at right level – should present challenge, but not be impossible to complete Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 58

After Set Goals Focus on how to accomplish goals Review necessary skills What information do you need to gather? What resources will be needed? Identify potential problems Prioritize goals Organize steps Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 59

Evaluating Goal Success If goal is achieved, enjoy sense of accomplishment and satisfaction If goal is not achieved, evaluate why failed – Was it realistic? – Did you lack needed skills/knowledge? – Is there another way to achieve the goal? – Remember, failure can be a positive learning experience Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 60

Use Time Management to Meet Goals Analyze and prioritize Identify habits and preferences Schedule tasks Make a daily “to do” list Plan your work Avoid distractions Take credit for a job well done Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 61

Summary Time management provides for an organized and efficient use of time Won’t always succeed when unexpected events occur If fail, reevaluate goals and revise the plan Patience, practice, and an honest effort are the best guides to a healthier, more content life Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 62