Unit 3 Personal Qualities of a Health Care Worker

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.2 3:1 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

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.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

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.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

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.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

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.6 Other Considerations  Name badge  Shoes  Personal hygiene  Nails  Hair  Jewelry  Makeup

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.7 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.8 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.9 Desirable Characteristics  Empathy  Honesty  Dependability  Willingness to learn  Patience  Acceptance of criticism  Enthusiasm

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.10 Desirable Characteristics (continued)  Self-motivation or self-initiative  Tact  Competence  Responsibility  Discretion  Team player

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.11 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.12 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.13 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.14 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.15 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.16 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.17 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.18 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.19 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.20 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.21 Types of Leaders  Democratic  Laissez-faire  Autocratic

Copyright © 2004 by Thomson Delmar Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.22 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.23 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.24 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.25 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.26 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.27 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.28 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.29 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.30 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.31 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.32 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.33 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.34 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