1. Personal Appearance
Chapter 3.1

2. First Impressions
Important to present an appearance that inspires confidence & a positive self image
Within 20 seconds to 4 minutes, first impressions are made
Rules for appearance vary with profession
Professional standards apply to most health careers & should be observed to create a positive impression

3. Good Health Involves promoting health & preventing disease
Should have a healthy appearance
Diet – well balanced meals
Rest – provides energy & ability, amount varies from person to person
Exercise – maintains circulation, muscle tone, helps attitude, helps sleep

4. Good Health (cont)
Good posture – prevents fatigue, decreases muscle strain. Demo standing & sitting
Avoid tobacco & drugs – affects function of circulatory system, heart, & digestive system. Most facilities smoke-free
Avoid alcohol – affects mental function & decreases good decision-making, affects many body systems. Can result in job loss

5. Uniform May be required Clean, neat, well-fitting, wrinkle free
White/neutral undergarments under white clothing
Avoid extreme styles
Find out what type & color of uniform is required, then follow standards established by employer

6. Clothing May wear in place of uniform if allowed
Clean, neat, good repair
Style should allow for body movement
Appropriate for position – jeans?
Washable fabrics best

7. Name tags
Most facilities require use of name badge or photo identification
States name, title, & department
In some facilities, name badge is required by law

8. Shoes White shoes often required Should fit & provide good support
Low heels best
Avoid tennis shoes & sandals
Clean daily & replace shoelaces regularly
Avoid colored or patterned stockings

9. Personal hygiene Health worker is in close contact with others
Control body odor – daily shower, deodorant use, good oral hygiene, clean undergarments
Avoid strong odors – tobacco, perfume, scented hairsprays, aftershave lotion
Certain scents can cause allergic reactions or nausea

10. Fingernails Keep short & clean
Long nails cause injury, puncture or tear gloves, transmit microorganisms
Avoid colored polish – conceals dirt, polish chips off, flash of colors can bother an ill person
If wearing polish, should be colorless
Use hand lotion to prevent chapping & dryness caused by frequent handwashing

11. Hair Clean & neat Avoid fancy or extreme styles or ornaments
Pinned back & off of collar – prevents hair from touching pt, falling on trays or equipment, avoids blocking vision during a procedure

12. Jewelry Usually not permitted with uniform
Can cause injury to pt & transmit pathogens
Can wear watch, wedding band, & small pierced earrings – NO hoops or dangling earrings
Body jewelry (nose, eyebrow, tongue, lip rings) detracts from professional appearance & is prohibited at many facilities

13. Make-up Avoid excessive make-up
Should create natural appearance & add to attractiveness

14. Personal Characteristics
Chapter 3.2

15. Characteristics of a health care worker
Empathy – ability to identify with & understand another person’s feelings, situation, & motives.
Must have sincere interest in working with people
Must care about & be able to communicate
Understand needs & learn effective communication skills

16. Characteristics of a health care worker
Honesty – truthfulness & integrity
Must be able to trust you at all times
Willing to admit mistakes so they can be corrected
Dependability – accept the responsibility required by your position
Prompt in reporting to work, good attendance record
Perform assigned tasks on time & accurately

17. Characteristics of a health care worker
Willingness to learn – willing to learn new things & adapt to change
Due to research, new inventions, tech
Learning new techniques or getting additional education
Lifelong learning required
Patience – tolerant & understanding
Control your temper, count to 10
Deal with frustration & overcome obstacles

18. Characteristics of a health care worker
Acceptance of criticism – willing to accept criticism & learn from it
Pts, employers, co-workers, families
Some is constructive – allows you to improve your work
Everyone can improve performance
Enthusiasm – must enjoy your work & have a positive attitude
Enthusiasm is contagious, helps you do your best & encourages others to do the same
Concentrate on positive points so that negatives are not so important

19. Characteristics of a health care worker
Self motivation – ability to begin or follow through with a task
Should be able to determine what needs to be done & do them without constant direction
Set goals & work to reach them
Tact – ability to say or do the kindest or most fitting thing in a difficult situation
Everyone has a right to feelings & should not be judged as right or wrong
Shows consideration for the feelings of others
Requires constant practice

20. Characteristics of health care workers
Competence – qualified & capable of performing a task
Follow instructions, use approved procedures
Strive for accuracy & know your limits
Ask for help if necessary
Responsibility – willing to be held accountable for your actions
Others rely on you, you will meet expectations
Do what you are supposed to do

21. Characteristics of health care workers
Discretion – using good judgment in what you say & do
Confidential information
Need proper authorization to get info
Be discreet, ensure that pt’s rights are not violated
Team player – learn to work well with others
Each member of the team has different responsibilities, but each must do his part
Working together accomplishes the goal faster

22. Characteristics of health care workers
All characteristics must be practiced & learned
Some take more time to develop than others
Be aware of these characteristics & strive to improve
If practiced, you will be a valuable asset to your employer

23. Teamwork
Chapter 3.3

24. Teamwork Part of an interdisciplinary health care team
Provides quality holistic care
Consists of many professionals, with different educations, backgrounds, ideas, & interests working together for the good of the pt.
What professionals might be involved in the care of a surgical pt?
Each team member has an important job to do
Team working together = quality care given

25. Teamwork Improves communication & continuity of care
Pt knows the caregivers & support staff
All team members help identify needs, offer opinions, participate in decision making, & suggest others to help
Allows a pt to become more educated about options & make informed decisions

26. Teamwork
Every person must understand the team member’s individual roles
Knowledge provides a picture of the total care plan
Helps clarify responsibility & establishes goals
Most teams have frequent PATIENT CARE CONFERENCES
Pt may be an active participant

27. Leader Important member of the team Responsible for:
Organizing/coordinating activities
Encouraging new ideas & opinions
Motivating members to work towards goals
Assisting with problems
Monitoring progress
Providing reports & feedback

28. Good interpersonal relationships
Quality of care harmed by poor interpersonal relationships between team members
Team members have different cultural & ethnic backgrounds, BE SENSITIVE
Treat others as you would want to be treated

29. Good interpersonal relationships
Include:
Maintaining positive attitude & laughing at yourself
Being friendly & cooperative
Assisting others when they need help
Listening carefully to other’s ideas
Respecting the opinions of others
Being open-minded & willing to compromise
Avoiding criticism of other team members
Learning good communication skills
Performing your duties to the best of your ability

30. Legal responsibilities
All members of the team must function within legal boundaries
No team member should ever try to solve a problem or perform a duty that is beyond the range of duties permitted
Effective teamwork results from hard work, patience, communication, & practice.
When every individual participates fully in the team, the team achieves success

31. Professional leadership
Chapter 3.4

32. Leadership
Definition – the skill or ability to encourage people to work together & do their best to achieve common goals
Leader = One who leads or guides others, one who is in charge or in command of others
Leaders are NOT born, they are developed by their own efforts
Combine visions of excellence with the ability to inspire others
Anyone can be a leader
Promote positive changes that benefit profession
Every contributing member can be a leader

33. Characteristics of a leader
All characteristics can be learned
Respect rights, dignity, opinions, & ability of others
Understands democratic principles
Works with a group to guide toward goal
Understands own strengths/weakness
Self-confident & willing to take a stand
Communicates effectively
Self-initiative, willing to work, completes tasks, optimistic, open-minded, compromises
Praises others & gives credit

34. Categories of leaders
Religious, political, club, organization, business, community, experts, & peers
Leaders develop based on involvement
Any individual that joins an organization can become a leader

35. Types of leaders DEMOCRATIC
Encourages participation of all people in decision-making or problem solving
Listens to others’ opinions & bases decisions on what is best for the group
Guides individuals to a solution so the groups can take responsibility for the decision

36. Types of leaders LAISSEZ-FAIRE
Informal leader that strives for minimal rules & regs
Allows individuals to function independently
Hands off policy, makes decisions only when forced to
Laissez-faire means “to let alone”

37. Types of leaders AUTOCRATIC Often called dictator
Maintains total rule, makes all decisions, has difficulty delegating or sharing duties
Seldom asks others’ opinions, emphasizes discipline, expects others to follow direction at all times
Individuals follow this leader out of fear of punishment or extreme loyalty

38. Leadership All types of leadership have advantages & disadvantages
Rarely, autocratic leader may be beneficial
Democratic leader is usually most effective
Remember to respect the rights & opinions of others for effective leadership

39. Stress & Time Management
Chapter 3.5 – 3.6

40. Stress
Definition – the body’s reaction to any stimulus that requires a person to adjust to a changing environment
Change always initiates stress, even if it is good
Stressors – stimuli to change, alter behavior, or adapt to a situation
Can be situations, events, or concepts
External vs. internal forces
External – new job
Internal – heart attack

41. Stressors cause Body goes into an alarm mode
Called flight or fight response
Sympathetic nervous system works OT
Adrenaline released (hormone from adrenals)
Blood vessels to heart & brain dilate
Blood vessels to skin & internal organs constrict
Pupils in eye dilate
Saliva decreases
Heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, respiratory rate increases
Actions provide body with burst of energy & stamina required to respond to stressor

42. After the stress is over
Parasympathetic nervous system works
Opposite reactions cause fatigue or exhaustion while body recovers
If body is subjected to constant stress, normal body functions are disrupted
Can result in serious illness or disease
Migraine headaches, anxiety reactions, depression, allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, hypertension, insomnia, heart disease

43. Stress Everyone experiences
Amount of stress depends on the individual reaction to & perception of the situation
Example – blood test can be stressful for some, but routine for another

44. Causes of stress Relationships Job or school
Foods – caffeine, salt, sweets
Illness & lifestyle
Finances
Family events – birth, death, marriage, divorce
Overwork, boredom, negative feelings
Time limitations – too much to do
Failure to achieve goals

45. Response to stressors
If stress causes positive feelings, it can be helpful (achievement, excitement, anticipation, etc)
If stress causes negative feelings, it can be harmful (boredom, frustration, irritability, anger, depression, distrust, self-criticism, exhaustion)

46. Negative Stress Can lead to substance abuse
Smoking, alcohol use, drug use, excessive eating
Trying to find comfort & escape from negative feelings
Can lead to mental breakdown
Be aware of stressors & learn to control them

47. Steps to control stress
Identify stressors
Awareness of stressor & how you deal with it, can you change it?
Solve or eliminate the problem
Gather info, assess situation, identify problem, list possible solutions, make a plan, act on solution, evaluate results, change solution if necessary

48. Managing stress
STOP – immediately stop to break out of stress response
BREATHE – slow deep breath to relieve tension
REFLECT – think about the problem & cause of stress
CHOOSE – decide how you want to deal with the stress

49. Stress-reducing techniques
Live a healthy life – diet, exercise, rest
Take a break from stressors
Take a warm bath
Escape to quiet music or book
Relieve tension – slow deep breaths
Rely on others – talk to a friend
Meditate & use imagery
Enjoy yourself & Renew yourself
Think positively
Develop outside interests
Seek assistance & delegate, say NO

50. Remember Stress is a constant presence & cannot be avoided
Be aware of causes & learn how to respond when a stress reaction occurs
Solve problems effectively
Practice techniques to reduce the effect of stress
Patients also can experience stress as they deal with their illness

51. Time Management
Definition – a system of practical skills that allow a person to use time in the most efficient & productive way possible
Helps prevent or reduce stress
Puts individual in charge
Keeps things in perspective
Increases productivity
Uses time effectively
Improves enjoyment of activities
Provides time for relaxing & enjoying life

52. Steps of time management
Keep an activity record for several days
Determines how you use time
Activities that are performed, amount of time they take, how effective activity was
Wasted time obvious
Now begin to organize time
Schedule important projects
Work when feel energetic, rest when feel fatigued
Set goals to help you find your direction
Short term & long term
Set effective goals – accomplish not avoid
Prioritize & make sure goals are attainable

53. Steps of time management
Accomplish goals
Organize steps to help you accomplish
If goal achieved – enjoy accomplishment
If goal not achieved – evaluate & determine why you failed
Unrealistic goal?
Lack skills or knowledge?
Another way to accomplish?
Failure can be positive

54. Time Management to meet goals
Analyze & prioritize
Review goals, list tasks to accomplish them most important to least important
Delegate if necessary
Identify habits & preferences
Energy high vs energy low
Schedule tasks, make lists
Plan your work – pace yourself
Avoid distractions – screen calls, say no
Take credit for job well done

55. Time management Provides for organized & efficient use of time
Things do not always go according to plan, even with careful planning
Common events – emergencies, new assignments, complications, overscheduling
Determine the reason for failure if time management doesn’t work
Reevaluate goals & revise plan
Patience, practice, & an honest effort necessary for success