1. Personal Characteristics

2. Personal Characteristics
Lessons 1. Appearance Go 2. Desirable Traits Go
TABLE OF CONTENTS

3. Lesson 1 – Personal Appearance
Health care workers must practice healthy habits and wear professional garments.
When health care workers present a positive self-image, patients are more likely to feel confident about the care they receive.
Personal Appearance
It is important for health care workers to take pride in their personal appearance. They must practice healthy habits and wear professional garments. When health care workers present a positive self-image, patients are more likely to feel confident about the care they receive.

4. Lesson 1 – Good Health
One aspect of personal appearance is good health. Good health involves treating and preventing health problems.
Good health includes:
Good nutrition
Regular physical activity
Adequate sleep
Effective stress management
Good posture
Avoiding harmful substances
Good Health
One aspect of personal appearance is good health. Good health involves treating and preventing health problems. The following six items are principles for maintaining good health:
Good nutrition: Eat well-balanced meals to provide the body with energy and nutrients.
Regular physical activity: Exercise daily to develop muscle tone, maintain circulation, relieve stress, and improve emotional well-being.
Adequate sleep: Get enough sleep each night so that the body is refreshed and alert for the next day’s activities.
Effective stress management: Learn to manage well to reduce the risk of stress-related health problems.
Good posture: Practice good posture to prevent fatigue and reduce the risk of muscle strains.
Avoid harmful substances: Avoid using harmful substances, such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, which can damage body systems and impair judgment.
When health care workers apply these principles, they increase their ability to perform daily tasks. In addition, health care workers who are physically and mentally fit are prepared to handle the challenges of working in a medical facility.

5. Lesson 1 – Dress Requirements
Every medical facility has dress requirements for the employees.
The requirements for dress vary by facility, but most facilities have rules regarding:
Uniform
Clothing
Shoes
Name badge
Jewelry
Dress Requirements
Every medical facility has dress requirements for the employees. Health care workers must take special care to abide by the rules and to maintain a neat appearance. The requirements for dress vary by facility, but there are basic guidelines that all health care workers should follow:
Uniform: Some agencies require health care workers to wear white, while other agencies allow colors. All uniforms should be well-fitting, clean, and free from wrinkles. Undergarments should be white or neutral so that they cannot be seen through the uniform.
Clothing: Some agencies allow regular clothing to be worn in place of a uniform. Like uniforms, clothing must be well-fitting, clean, and free from wrinkles. In addition, health care workers must chose clothing that is appropriate for their jobs. For example, neat sweat pants may be appropriate for an athletic trainer, but sweat pants would not be proper for a medical billing officer.
Shoes: Many facilities require health care workers to wear white socks and shoes. Some facilities do not have a color preference. All shoes must be clean and supportive. Sandals and shoes with high heels should be avoided.
Name Badge: Health care workers are required to wear name badges at most facilities. In some types of medical facilities, it is illegal to work without a name badge. Name badges usually display the name, title, and department of the health care worker. Many name badges also contain an identification photo.
Jewelry: Jewelry is not allowed in most health care professions. Exceptions include wedding rings, small earrings, and watches. When jewelry is permitted by a facility, it should be tasteful and not worn in excess.

6. Lesson 1 – Hygiene
Health care workers must take special care to maintain good hygiene, including:
Controlled body odor and cleanliness
Groomed hair and fingernails
Clean, appropriate hairstyles
Tasteful makeup
Hygiene
In addition to dress requirements, health care workers must be mindful of their personal hygiene. The following guidelines should be practiced by all health care workers:
Personal Hygiene: Health care workers must make every effort to control body odor. They must shower daily, use deodorant, brush teeth, and wear clean undergarments. In addition, health care workers must not wear strong perfumes, lotions, aftershaves, or hair products that may be overbearing or cause allergic reactions in patients and co-workers.
Fingernails: Health care workers should keep their fingernails short and rounded. Long or pointed fingernails may injure patients or tear gloves. If fingernails are painted, the color must be clear or neutral. In most cases, acrylic fingernails are not allowed. Also, fingernails must be kept clean. Use a nail brush to clean under fingernails and remove all dirt and pathogens.
Hair: Hair should be washed regularly and styled neatly. Extreme styles and flashy hair accessories should be avoided. If health care workers work closely with patients, long hair must be pulled back. Hair should never touch patients or block vision during procedures.
Makeup: When makeup is worn, it must be natural and tasteful. Extreme or excessive makeup should be avoided.

7. Lesson 2 – Desirable Traits
All health care workers must be committed to developing certain personality traits.
Desirable traits for health care workers include these general mind-sets:
Maintaining a positive attitude
Following the rules
Communicating effectively
Interacting appropriately
Growing personally and professionally
Desirable Traits
To be successful, health care workers must demonstrate certain personality traits. Some of these traits may not be natural for every health care worker. All health care workers must be committed to developing these attitudes and personal characteristics.
Desirable traits for health care workers include these general mind-sets:
Maintaining a positive attitude
Following the rules
Communicating effectively
Interacting appropriately
Growing personally and professionally

8. Lesson 2 – Positive Attitude
A positive spirit is contagious and can create a pleasant environment for patients and co- workers.
To create a positive attitude, health care workers must develop the following traits:
Flexibility
Honesty
Responsibility
Commitment
Enthusiasm
Positive Attitude
Health care workers must display a positive attitude in their daily activities. A positive spirit is contagious and can create a pleasant environment for patients and co-workers. To create a positive attitude, health care workers must develop the following traits:
Flexibility
Honesty
Responsibility
Commitment
Enthusiasm

9. Lesson 2 – Flexibility
Above all other traits, health care workers must be flexible.
Health care workers must demonstrate the ability to adapt to change, learn new skills, and try different methods.
Flexibility
Above all other traits, health care workers must be flexible. Medical facilities are always changing. Health care workers must demonstrate the ability to adapt to change, learn new skills, and try different methods.
For example, Walter has been a nurse for many years. When he began working as a nurse, mercury thermometers were the primary tool used for taking temperature. However, the health care facility where he works now uses only electronic thermometers. Walter must be flexible and adapt to this change. In addition, he must be willing to learn the correct procedure for operating the new piece of equipment.

10. Lesson 2 – Honesty
Truthfulness and integrity must be held in high regard in the workplace. Health care workers must be able to trust each other.
Health care workers must always be honest with patients so that patients never doubt the quality of their care.
Honesty
Truthfulness and integrity must be held in high regard in the workplace. Health care workers must be able to trust each other. In addition, health care workers must always be honest with patients so that patients never doubt the quality of their care.
For example, Ronnie is having a busy day at work. Her supervisor asks her to check the temperature of a patient. Ronnie is tempted to make up a temperature and record it on the patient’s chart to save time. However, Ronnie knows that this is not honest. Lying would injure her professional relationship with her boss and co-workers. Plus, lying about a temperature could cause complications to the patient’s health. Despite her busy schedule, Ronnie takes the patient’s temperature correctly.

11. Lesson 2 – Responsibility
Health care workers are relied upon by patients and co-workers. They must demonstrate dependability by finishing tasks accurately and on time.
They must also take responsibility for their actions, even when the consequences are not pleasant.
Responsibility
Health care workers are relied upon by patients and co-workers. They must demonstrate dependability by finishing tasks accurately and on time. They must also take responsibility for their actions, even when the consequences are not pleasant.
For example, Alicia began her career as a medical assistant a few months ago. After changing the dressing on a patient’s wound, Alicia threw the old dressing and her gloves into a regular trash can instead of a biohazardous waste container. A nurse noticed these items in the trash can and reported the incident to the supervisor. When the supervisor asked who was responsible, Alicia admitted to her mistake. Although she was embarrassed, Alicia took responsibility for her actions and learned from her error.

12. Lesson 2 – Commitment
Health care workers must show that they are dedicated to their jobs. This means that they do not perform tasks half- heartedly.
Even in difficult circumstances, health care workers must display genuine commitment and dependability.
Commitment
Health care workers must show that they are dedicated to their jobs. This means that they do not perform tasks half-heartedly. Even in difficult circumstances, health care workers must display genuine commitment and dependability.
For example, Luke took a short vacation over the weekend and did not get home until very late on Sunday evening. He was scheduled to work at 7:00 AM on Monday. Although he was tempted to take the day off, Luke is committed to being a good employee. He went into work as scheduled.

13. Lesson 2 – Enthusiasm
Health care workers must show enthusiasm in their work.
By being positive and encouraging, one health care worker can lift the spirits of several patients and co- workers.
Enthusiasm
Finally, health care workers must show enthusiasm in their work. By being positive and encouraging, one health care worker can lift the spirits of several patients and co-workers.
For example, a team of nurses in a hospital was saddened by the resignation of a co-worker. Rhonda, an LPN, sent each team member an encouraging card to help motivate the nurses to keep smiling. Thoughtful gestures like this can unify employees and create positive energy in the workplace.

14. Lesson 2 – Follow the Rules
Compliance is another desirable trait for health care workers.
Health care workers must comply with the rules of the facility, including:
Following the attendance policies
Arriving to work on time
Wearing appropriate dress
Adhering to the line of authority
Performing only the tasks in your scope of practice
Obeying all general rules, guidelines, and standards
Follow the Rules
In addition to maintaining a positive attitude, another desirable trait for health care workers is compliance. Health care workers must comply with the rules of the facility where they are employed. This includes:
Following the attendance policies
Arriving to work on time
Wearing appropriate dress
Adhering to the line of authority
Performing only the tasks in your scope of practice
Obeying all general rules, guidelines, and standards

15. Lesson 2 – Communication
Communication is the process of exchanging messages. This involves sharing information and receiving feedback about the information.
Communication can be verbal, written, or nonverbal.
Health care workers must learn to communicate with co-workers and patients.
Communication
Health care workers must be able to communicate effectively. Communication is the process of exchanging messages. This involves sharing information and receiving feedback about the information. A good communicator is able to judge when it is appropriate to speak and when it is necessary to listen.
Health care workers must learn to communicate with co-workers and patients. Communication can be verbal, written, or nonverbal. All methods of communication must be straightforward, understandable, and accurate.

16. Lesson 2 – Interaction
When health care workers interact with patients and co-workers, they must be professional and appropriate at all times.
Health care workers must never be judgmental of a person’s ethnicity, culture, age, gender, religion, lifestyle, or economic status.
Interaction
When health care workers interact with patients and co-workers, they must be professional and appropriate at all times. This involves being respectful of all people. Health care workers must never be judgmental of a person’s ethnicity, culture, age, gender, religion, lifestyle, or economic status. Instead, these differences should be valued.
In addition, health care workers are often required to interact in various settings. Sometimes, the interaction may be in a one-on-one setting. Other times, the interaction may be in a group setting. Health care workers must learn to act appropriately in each situation.

17. Lesson 2 – Personal and Professional Growth
The health care industry is always changing. Because of this, health care workers must be willing to grow personally and professionally.
One way to monitor growth is to set goals. A goal is a desired result or purpose.
Personal and Professional Growth
The health care industry is always changing. Because of this, health care workers must be willing to grow personally and professionally. One way to monitor growth is to set goals.
A goal is a desired result or purpose. Goals can be long-term or short-term. A long-term goal is an achievement that may take a few years or even a lifetime to accomplish. Short-term goals are smaller steps that are taken to help reach the long-term goal. A short-term goal may take only a few days, weeks, or months to accomplish.
Health care workers should set goals for personal and professional development. The following questions may help a health care worker set long-term and short-term goals:
What would I like to be doing in 5 years, 10 years, or 20 years?
What type of education or training is needed?
What personality traits or characteristics may be required?
What problems could prevent me from achieving a goal?
What small steps can I take now to help me reach a goal?

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