1. Chapter 3
Work Ethics
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2. 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
As a nursing assistant, you must act and function in a professional manner.
Ethics involves choices and judgments about what to do or what not to do. An ethical person does the right thing. In the workplace, certain behaviors (conduct), choices, and judgments are expected.
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3. 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.
Residents, families, and visitors expect the health team to look and act healthy.
If you are not clean, people wonder if you give good care.
You are part of the health team. Your health, appearance, and hygiene need careful attention.
For information to help maintain a balanced diet see Chapter 19.
For proper body mechanics see Chapter 14.
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4. 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.
Personal hygiene needs careful attention.
Good health and hygiene practices help you look and feel well.
Follow the practices in Box 3-1 on p. 36.
They help you look clean, neat, and professional (Fig. 3-1 on p. 37).
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5. 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.
Your clinical experience site is an important source. The staff always looks at students as future employees. They look for good work ethics. They watch how students treat residents and co-workers. If that agency is not hiring, the staff may suggest other places to apply.
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6. 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.
One requirement of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) is that to work in long-term care, you must complete a state-approved nursing assistant training and competency evaluation program (NATCEP).
The employer checks the nursing assistant registry and requests proof of training.
Give the employer only a copy of your certificate, transcript, or grade report.
You get a job application from the personnel office or human resources office.
Often the application is your first chance to impress the employer. A neat, readable, and complete application gives a good image.
Employers want employees with good work ethics and who have values and attitudes that fit with the center
Good work ethics involve the qualities and traits described in Box 3-2 on p. 37. They are necessary for you to function well (Fig. 3-2 on p. 37).
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7. 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.
A job interview is the employer’s chance to get to know and evaluate you. You also find out more about the center.
Prepare answers to common interview questions before the interview. Practice in front of a mirror or with a “pretend” interviewer. Box 3-4 on p. 43 lists common interview questions.
You must present a good image. Follow the guidelines in Box 3-5 on p. 43.
A dry run (practice run) gives an idea of how long it takes to get from your home to the personnel office.
The interviewer may ask the receptionist about how you acted while waiting.
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8. 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
The interviewer may ask about a skill not on your list. Explain that you are willing to learn the skill if your state allows nursing assistants to perform the task.
An employer wants to hire someone who will be happy in the job and the center.
Advise the interviewer of functions you cannot perform because of training, legal, ethical, or religious reasons.
Box 3-4 on p. 43 lists some questions for you to ask at the end of the interview.
The interviewer signals when the interview is over. Follow-up is acceptable.
A thank-you letter or note is advised. [Practice writing a thank-you note in class. Discuss the elements of a thank-you note.] (Refer to Fig. 3-6 on p. 44.)
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9. 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.
You can apply many places and have many interviews. Think about all offers before accepting one.
You might have more questions about a center. Ask them before accepting the job.
To help decide what to do, discuss the offer with a family member, friend, co-worker, or your instructor.
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10. 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.
A preceptor is a staff member who guides another staff member. A nurse or nursing assistant:
Helps you learn the center’s layout so you can find what you need
Introduces you to residents and staff
Helps you organize your work
Helps you feel comfortable as a part of the nursing team
Answers questions about the policy and procedure manual
A nursing assistant preceptor is not your supervisor. Only nurses can supervise.
The purpose of a preceptor program is to help you succeed in your role. It helps ensure quality care.
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11. 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.
Having a job is a privilege. It is not a right or something owed to you.
Preparing for your job shows respect for fellow workers as well as the residents.
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12. 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.
Be sure to have a “back-up” plan if your childcare worker is unavailable or your child is sick.
Have a back-up plan for transportation problems also.
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13. 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.
Residents and their families will make judgments about the center based on you and your behavior. You reflect the quality of care the residents receive in how you behave. Refer to Box 3-2 on p. 37.
To promote teamwork and manage your time:
Ask the nurse how you can help.
Do not complain about not having enough staff.
Ask the nurse to list the most important tasks and care measures.
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14. 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.
You must believe that you and your work have value.
To gossip means to spread rumors or talk about the private matters of others. Gossiping is unprofessional and hurtful.
Confidentiality means trusting others with personal and private information.
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15. 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.
A courtesy is a polite, considerate, or helpful comment or act.
Personal matters cannot interfere with the job.
Job safety is everyone’s responsibility.
A priority is the most important thing at the time.
Review Box 3-6 on p. 46. Plan your work to give safe, thorough care and to make good use of your time.
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16. 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.
Stress is the response or change in the body caused by any emotional, physical, social, or economic factor.
A stressor is the event or factor that causes stress.
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17. 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.
Harassment means to trouble, torment, offend, or worry a person by one’s behavior or comments.
Be careful about what you say or do. Even innocent remarks and behaviors can be viewed as harassment.
Avoid even the appearance of improper statements or actions.
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18. Resigning from a Job and Losing 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.
Write a resignation letter or complete a form in the human resource office.
To protect your job, function at your best. Review Box 3-7 on p. 48.
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19. 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.
You cannot deliver your best care when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Those who use drugs or alcohol are late to work or absent more often than staff who do not use such substances.
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