Chapter 3 Work Ethics All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Professionalism   Professionalism involves following laws, being ethical, having good work ethics, and having the skills to do your work.   Ethics deals with right and wrong conduct.   Work ethics concerns behavior in the workplace.   How you look   What you say   How you behave   How you treat others   How you work with others 2 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Personal Health, Hygiene, and Appearance   Your health   You need a balanced diet.   Most adults need about 7 hours of sleep daily.   You need to use your muscles correctly.   Exercise is needed for muscle tone, circulation, and weight loss.   Have your eyes checked and wear needed eyeglasses or contact lenses.   Smoking causes lung, heart, and circulatory disorders.   Working under the influence of drugs affects the person’s safety.   Never report to work under the influence of alcohol. 3 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Personal Hygiene   Your hygiene   Bathe daily.   Use a deodorant or antiperspirant.   Brush your teeth often.   Shampoo often.   Keep fingernails clean, short, and neatly shaped.   Practice good hand-washing.   Menstrual hygiene is important.   Foot care prevents odors and infection. 4 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Getting a Job   Employers want to hire people who:   Are dependable   Are well-groomed   Have needed job skills and training   Have values and attitudes that fit with the center   Being dependable is important. 5 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

What Employers Look for   Job skills and training   Employers need to know that you have the required job skills.   You must meet OBRA training and competency requirements.   Job applications   You must be well-groomed and behave pleasantly when seeking or returning a job application.   How you fill it out may mean getting or not getting the job.   Follow the center’s instructions for completing and sending an on-line application. 6 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preparing for the Interview   The job interview   Type a list of your skills to give to the interviewer.   You need to be neat, clean, and well-groomed.   Being on time shows you are dependable.   Greet the interviewer in a polite manner.   Stand until asked to take a seat.   Good eye contact is needed.   Watch your body language.   Avoid distracting habits.   Keep your mind on the interview.   Give complete and honest answers. 7 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

During the Interview   Speak clearly and with confidence.   Avoid short and long answers.   Share your skills list.   You can ask questions at the end of the interview.   Review the job description with the interviewer.   Ask questions about: Pay rate, work hours, and uniform requirements The new employee orientation program Benefits and career advancement opportunities 8 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Accepting a Job   Accept the job that is best for you.   Agree on a starting date, pay rate, and work hours.   Find out where to report on your first day.   Ask for and read the employee handbook and other center information. Read everything before you start working. 9 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Orientation   New employee orientation   The center’s policy and procedure manual is reviewed.   Your skills are checked.   You are shown how to use the center’s supplies and equipment.   The center may have a preceptor program.   If you do not feel comfortable after the preceptor program, ask for more orientation time. 10 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preparing for Work   To keep your job, you must:   Function well and work well with others   Work when scheduled   Get to work on time   Stay the entire shift   Absences and tardiness are common reasons for losing a job. 11 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Childcare   You need to plan for childcare:   When you leave for work   While you are at work   Before you get home from work   During emergencies   Plan for transportation needs. 12 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Teamwork on the Job   Practice good work ethics.   Quality of care is affected by:   How you work with others   How you feel about your job   Attendance   Report to work when scheduled and on time.   Follow the center’s attendance policy.   Be ready to work when your shift starts.   Attendance also means staying the entire shift.   When it is time to leave, report off duty to the nurse. 13 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Teamwork Standards   Have a positive attitude.   Avoid gossip.   Privacy and confidentiality are resident rights protected by OBRA.   Center and co-worker information also is confidential.   Personal hygiene and appearance are important.   Your speech and language must be professional. 14 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Teamwork Standards (Cont’d)   Courtesies are needed.   Personal matters cannot interfere with the job.   Leave for and return from meals and breaks on time.   You must protect residents, families, visitors, co-workers, and yourself from harm.   Plan your work to give safe, thorough care and to make good use of your time. 15 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Managing Stress   Stress affects the whole person.   Prolonged or frequent stress can threaten your health.   Dealing with stress is important.   Stress affects you, the care you give, the person’s quality of life, and how you relate to co-workers. 16 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Harassment   Harassment can be sexual.   Harassment can involve age, race, ethnic background, religion, or disability.   Harassment is not legal in the workplace.   Sexual harassment involves unwanted sexual behaviors by another.   Victims of sexual harassment may be men or women.   If you feel that you are being harassed, report the matter to your supervisor and the human resources officer. 17 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Resigning from a Job and Losing a Job   Resigning from a Job   Whatever the reason for leaving a job, you need to tell your employer.   Do not leave a job without notice.   An exit interview is common practice.   Losing a Job   You must perform your job well and protect residents from harm. No pay raise or losing your job results from poor performance. 18 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Drug Testing   Drug and alcohol use affects resident and staff safety.   Quality of care suffers.   Some centers have drug testing policies.   Review your center’s policy. 19 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quality of Life   Your job as a nursing assistant is important.   Your work ethics have an impact on quality of life. 20 All items and derived items © 2015, 2011 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.