Chapter 4

1. Chapter 4 Personal and ProfessionalQualities of aHealth Care Worker

2. 4:1 Personal Appearance • Appearance communicates level of confidence and positive self-esteem • First impressions are based on appearances and form quickly • Rules about appearance may vary • Certain professional standards apply to most health careers

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 • Should be appropriate for position • Washable and less expensive to maintain

6. Other Considerations • Name badge • Shoes • Personal hygiene • Nails • Hair • Jewelry • Makeup and tattoos

7. Summary • Find out rules or standards established by the agency • Abide by the rules • Maintain a neat, clean, professional appearance at all times

8. 4:2 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

9. Desirable Characteristics • Empathy • Honesty • Dependability • Willingness to learn • Patience • Acceptance of criticism • Enthusiasm (continues)

10. Desirable Characteristics(continued) • Self-motivation or self-initiative • Tact • Competence • Responsibility • Discretion • Team player

11. 4:3 Effective Communications • Health care workers must be able to relate to patients, family, coworkers, and others • Understanding communication skills assists in this process • Communication: exchange of information, thoughts, ideas, and feelings (continues)

12. Effective Communications(continued) • Verbal: spoken words • Written • Nonverbal: facial expressions, body language, and touch (continues)

13. Effective Communications(continued) • Essential elements • Sender • Message • Receiver • Feedback (continues)

14. Effective Communications(continued) • Message must be clear • How sender delivers message • How receiver hears message • How receiver understands message • Avoid interruptions and distractions

15. Listening • Essential to communications • Attempt to hear what other is really saying • Need constant practice • Good listening skills techniques • Observe speaker closely • Reflect statements back to speaker

16. Nonverbal Communication • Facial expressions, body language, gestures, eye contact, and touch • Can conflict with verbal message • Be aware of own and other’s nonverbals • Don’t always need verbals to communicate effectively • When verbal and nonverbal agree, message more likely understood

17. Barriers to Communication • Something that gets in the way or limitsclear communications • Common barriers • Physical disabilities • Psychological attitudes and prejudice • Cultural diversity

18. Recording and Reporting • Observe and record observations • Use all senses in the process • Report promptly and accurately • Criteria for recording observations on a patient’s health care record • HIPAA regulations

19. Summary • Good communication skills allow development of good interpersonal relationships • Health care worker also relates more effectively with coworkers and other individuals

20. 4:4 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

21. 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 essential • Legal responsibilities

22. Good InterpersonalRelationship 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 (continues)

23. 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 (continues)

24. 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

25. Conflict Resolution • Deal with conflict in a positive way • Meet with people involved to discuss it • Listen to each other’s point of view • Avoid accusations and hostility • Solve problems cooperatively (continues)

26. Conflict Resolution(continued) • Sometimes a mediator may be needed • Grievance policies define official process • To meet team goals, conflict must be resolved as quickly as possible

27. 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, the team achieves success

28. 4:5 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

29. Types of Leaders • Democratic • Laissez-faire • Autocratic

30. 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

31. 4:6 Stress • Definition of stress • Stressors • What causes stress • Sympathetic nervous system response • Parasympathetic nervous system recovery • Stress is universal • Benefits of stress (continues)

32. Stress(continued) • Negative effects of stress • Learning to control stress • Stressors—how to problem solve • Managing stress reactions • Stop • Breathe • Reflect • Choose

33. 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 (continues)

34. 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

35. 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 • Patients can use same coping techniques

36. 4:7 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

37. Setting Goals • Why set goals? • Short- and long-term goals • Completion of goals results in satisfaction, sense of accomplishment, and motivation to attempt other goals (continues)

38. Setting Goals(continued) • Take the opportunity when starting high school to set short-term goals for researching careers in health care • Talk with a guidance or career counselor • Make sure you are taking the courses that are needed • Establish your own goals

39. 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

40. After Setting 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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