1. Personal Qualities of a Health Care Worker
Unit 3

2. Personal and Professional Characteristics
Certain personal attitudes, values, and rules of appearance apply to all health care professions.
It is an appearance that inspires confidence and a positive self-image.

3. Personal and Professional Characteristics
Research shows that within twenty seconds to 4 minutes people form an impression about a person based on their appearance.

4. 5 Factors That Contribute to Good Health
Health care professionals promote health and disease prevention. A health care worker should present a healthy appearance.
Diet
Rest
Exercise
Good Posture
Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drugs

5. Diet Eat well-balanced meals from the five major food groups. Milk
Meat, fish and poultry
Vegetables
Fruits
Bread, cereal and rice

6. Exercise Maintains circulation and improves muscle tone
Enhances mental attitude
Aids in weight control
More restful sleep
Reduces risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis

7. Good Posture
Prevents fatigue
Less stress on muscles

8. Avoid Tobacco and Alcohol
Tobacco affects function of heart, circulatory system, lungs and digestive system.
Smoke is offensive to many people,
most facilities are smoke free.
Alcohol and drugs impair mental function
decrease ability to make decisions.

9. Rest You need adequate rest and sleep Varies from person to person
Provides energy and the ability to deal with stress

10. Lack of sleep can cause:
Impaired memory/thought process
Depression
Lowered immune response

11. Personal Appearance
In health care it is importance to have a clean, neat and professional appearance.
Know what rules are established at your place of employment.
Who are
these guys?

12. Professional Appearance
Uniforms
Neat, well-fitting, clean free from wrinkles
Clothing
Allow freedom for movement
Name Badge
Name, Title, Department and Photo
Shoes
Well-fitting with good support to prevent fatigue

13. Shoes continued… Low or no heels Avoid sandals/open toe shoes- why?
Clean daily/replace shoe laces often
White hose/socks- No prints

14. Personal Hygiene You are in close contact with others
Control body odor
Bathe/shower daily
Use deodorant
Good oral hygiene
Clean undergarments
Avoid strong odors that can be offensive

15. Tattoos Tattoos that are visible or offensive can be a distraction
Prohibitted in many healthcare facilities
May be required to cover and not be visible

16. Professional Appearance continued…
Nails
Short, clean and natural no nail polish
Can cause injury/transmit germs
Hair
Clean and neat, avoid extreme styles, pinned off collar
Jewelry
Wedding band, watch, and stud earrings. No body piercings.
Make up
Natural not excessive

17. Exit Ticket
How long does it take for someone to form an impression of your appearance?
List the 5 main food groups
List 3 benefits of exercise
Why must nails be kept short and clean?

18. Personal Characteristics
Many personal/professional characteristics and attitudes are required in health occupations.
Make every effort to develop the following characteristics and incorporate them into your personality.

19. Personal Characteristics
Empathy – being able to understand another persons feelings, situation, and motives

20. Personal Characteristics
Honesty – truthfulness and integrity are important in any career

21. Personal Characteristics
Dependability – employers and patients rely on you, so you must accept responsibility by being prompt to work and doing your job accurately and timely

22. Personal Characteristics
Willingness to learn – You must be willing to adapt to change. Change often requires learning new techniques or procedures.

23. Personal Characteristics
Patience – tolerant and understanding
Acceptance of Criticism – criticism can be constructive and allow you to improve your work

24. Patience cont’d…… control your temper
Deal with frustrations and overcome obstacles

25. Personal Characteristics
Enthusiasm – enjoy your work and display a positive attitude
Concentrate on +
Is contagious
Self-motivated – ability to begin and follow through on a task. Set goals and work to attain them

26. Personal Characteristics
Tact – the ability to do and say the kindest and most fitting thing in a difficult situation.
Competence – you are qualified and capable to perform a task.
Know limits and when to ask for help

27. Personal Characteristics
Responsibility – willing to be held accountable for your actions.
Others can rely on you
Discretion – use good judgment in what you say or do. Confidentiality is important.
Team Player – learn to work well with others. Working together can accomplish a goal much faster than individually.
Each member has different responsibilities but common goal

28. Communication: exchange of information, thoughts, ideas and feelings
Health care workers must be able to relate to patients, family, coworkers and other professionals.
3 types communication
Verbal
Written
Nonverbal behavior:
Facial expressions
Body language
Touch

29. 3 Essential Elements of Communcation Process
Sender
Message
Receiver
Without these 3 things, communication can not occur.
Feedback can be used to determine whether communication was successful.

30. Factors interfering with the communication process:
Message must be clear; must be in terms that both sender and receiver can understand.
Sender must deliver the message in a clear, concise manner. No slang or words with double meanings.

31. Listening ……….. Receiver must be able to hear and receive the message.
Receiver must be able to understand the message.
Receivers attitude and prejudices can interfere.

32. Continued… Interruptions and distractions must be avoided.
Listening is an essential part of communication.
Maintain eye contact
Pay attention to what the speaker is saying

33. ………….
Eliminate your own prejudices
Ask for clarification if you do not understand.
Keep your temper under control.
Maintain positive attitude.
Good listening skills will allow you to receive the entire message.

34. Continued… Watch persons body actions.
Reflect statements back to the speaker.

35. Nonverbal Communications
Use of facial expressions, body language, gestures, eye contact and touch to convey messages or ideas.
It is important for health care workers to be aware of their own and patients nonverbal behavior

36. Barriers to Communication
Communication barrier: something that gets in the way of clear communication.
3 common causes of communication barriers:
Physical disabilities
Psychological attitudes and prejudices
Cultural diversity

37. Physical Disabilities
Deafness or hearing loss
Blindness or vision impaired
Aphasia or speech impairments

38. Exit ticket What is communication?
What 3 things must be present in order for communication to occur?
List the three types of communication.
List three physical disabilities that are barriers to communication.

39. What is communication?
Communication in the exchange of information, thoughts, ideas and feelings.
What 3 things must be present for communication to occur?
Sender, message,reciever
List the three types communication.
Verbal, written, nonverbal behavior

40. List the three types of physical disabilities that are barriers to communication.
Deafness or hearing loss
Blindness or vision impaired
Aphasia or speech impairments

41. Psychological Barriers
Often caused by prejudice, attitudes and personality.
Examples:
Closed mindness
Judging
Preaching
Moralizing
Overeacting
Arguing

42. …….
Advising
And prejudicing
Judgment of others is too often based on appearance, lifestyle, socioeconomic status.
Stereotypes
Lazy bums, dumb blonde
Health care workers must learn to put prejudice aside and show respect to all.

43. Cultural Diversity
Culture consists of values, beliefs, attitudes and customs.
Some culture groups have beliefs and practices regarding health and illness.
Language differences are another barrier to communication.

44. Eye contact
Some cultures direct eye to eye contact is not acceptable.
Touch
Some cultures it is inappropriate to touch someone on the head and even a simple handshake is unacceptable.

45. Recording/Reporting Information
All observations are an important part of communication and the patients record.
Listen to what the patient is saying as well as make observations.

46. Subjective/Objective Observations
Subjective Observations
Symptoms
Can NOT be felt or seen.
Complaints made by patient- use their exact words
Objective observations
Signs
CAN be seen and measured(bruise,swelling)

47. Recording Patient Observations
Must be accurate,concise,complete
Legible
Grammatically correct
ONLY objective observations recorded
Patients statement must be in their exact words
Signed by name and title of person recording information

48. WHO AM I?
Everyday this person scored himself on 13 different virtues (A virtue is a positive trait or quality, moral excellence) including sincerity, justice, moderation, silence, humility, tranquility, etc. He stated:
“though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious to obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet as I was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been had I not attempted it.”
Virtues

49. Teamwork
Teamwork consists of many professionals, with different levels of educations, ideas, backgrounds, and interests, working together for the benefit of the patient.
Teamwork improves communication and continuity of care.
A leader is an important part of every team.
Good interpersonal relationships are essential.
The “Golden Rule” (treat others as you would want to be treated) should be the main rule of team work.
Teamwork
Teamwork2

50. The Golden Rules of Teamwork
1. Help each other to be RIGHT - not wrong. 2. Look for ways to make New ideas work - not for reasons why they will not work. 3. If in doubt - Check it Out. Don't make negative assumptions about one another. 4. Help each other Win and take pride in each other's successes. US, WE, OUR, TOGETHER, not they, them, their, those guys. 5. Speak Positively about each other, help those who make mistakes learn. 6. Maintain a positive attitude. Work to improve the situation no matter what that situation is. 7. Act with initiative and courage as if everyone depends on you. 8. Do everything with Enthusiasm for nothing is as contagious as success. 9. Whenever you can remember to Give things away rather than take them away: Give Respect, Recognition, Power, Support, Compassion, Help. 10. Never give up.

51. Professional Leadership
The skill or ability to encourage people to work together and do their best to achieve common goals.
A leader is defined as an individual who leads or guides others, or who is in charge to command others.
In a group, every member who makes a contribution to an idea can be considered a leader.
Leadership in a group passes from person to person as each individual contributes to the group’s goal.

52. Professional Leadership
Leaders are frequently classified as one of three types based on how they perform their leadership skills.
Democratic leader – encourages the participation of all individuals in decisions. Listens to others opinions.
Laissez-faire leader – informal type of leader, will have minimal rules, group functions with little or no direction.
Autocratic – often called a dictator, maintains total rule, makes all decisions.

53. Warm-Up Recall the leadership styles we discussed yesterday.
Are you a leader? What type are you?

54. Show your leadership and teamwork
Simon Says
Everyone must do whatever Simon says, as long as Simon prefaces his or her request with the phrase, "Simon says ..." So "Simon says, stand on one foot" must be complied with, but "Jump up and down" should not. Anyone who compiles at the wrong time is out. Last one in the game wins -- and, if you're willing to risk it, becomes the next Simon.
Red Light, Green Light
You're in the middle, with your back to a lineup of panting kids. At "Green Light!" they'll creep/walk/run toward you -- until you spin and holler "Red Light." Anyone who doesn't instantly freeze is sent back to Start. First to touch you switches places.

55. Stress
Working in health care can be very stressful. Sometimes you will deal with life and death situations.
How do you handle stress?

57. Stress
Stress is the body’s reaction to any stimulus that requires a person to adjust to a changing environment.
Change always initiates stress.
The stimuli (an event) to change, alter behavior, or adapt to a situation are stressors.

58. Stress Stressors can be caused by internal or external forces.
Internal stress – “heart attack,” cancer
External stress – new job, marriage, divorce, test.
No matter what the cause, a stressor will cause the body to go into alarm or warning mode…..the “fight or flight” response.
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for action by releasing the hormone adrenaline into the blood stream.

59. Stress Not all stress is harmful.
A small amount of stress is essential to an individual’s well-being because it makes the person more alert and raises the energy level.
Stress can cause positive feelings such as excitement, anticipation, self-confidence, and a sense of achievement.

60. Stress – How can you handle it?
Stop: immediately stop what you are doing to break out of the stress response.
Breathe: take a slow deep breath to relieve the physical tension.
Reflect: think about the problem and the cause of the stress.
Choose: determine how you want to deal with the stress.

61. Time Management
Is a system of practical skills that allows an individual to use time in the most effective and productive way
Helps prevent or reduce stress- puts you in charge
Increases productivity and you can use your time more efficently

62. Time Management Continued
Analyze and prioritize
Schedule Tasks
Make a to do list
Plan your work
Avoid distractions
Take credit for a job well done

63. Long Term and Short Term Goals
Long term goals may take years or a lifetime to accomplish
Short term goals can take days, weeks, and even months to accomplish
Completion of a goal will lead to a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment- motivation to attempt another goal