Personal Qualities Personal Qualities of a Health Care of a Health Care

WorkerWorker

Personal AppearancePersonal Appearance• Important to present an appearance Important to present an appearance

that inspires confidence and a that inspires confidence and a positive self image.positive self image.

• Research has shown that within 20 Research has shown that within 20 seconds to 4 minutes people form seconds to 4 minutes people form impressions based mainly on impressions based mainly on appearanceappearance

Who would you like to be Who would you like to be your doctor or nurse?your doctor or nurse?

• Healthcare workers should present a healthy appearance.

Good HealthGood Health• DietDiet• RestRest• ExerciseExercise• Good postureGood posture• Avoid tobacco, alcohol, drugsAvoid tobacco, alcohol, drugs

DIETDIET• Eat well balanced meals with Eat well balanced meals with

nutritious foodsnutritious foods• Provides body with materials for Provides body with materials for

optimum healthoptimum health• Foods from each of 5 food groupsFoods from each of 5 food groups• Milk, meat, fish and poultry; veggies, Milk, meat, fish and poultry; veggies,

fruits and bread, cereals, rice and fruits and bread, cereals, rice and pasta pasta

RESTREST• Need adequate rest and sleepNeed adequate rest and sleep• Provides energy and ability to deal Provides energy and ability to deal

with stresswith stress• Amount of sleep required varies Amount of sleep required varies

from person to personfrom person to person

EXERCISEEXERCISE• Maintains circulation and improves Maintains circulation and improves

muscle tonemuscle tone• Helps mental attitudeHelps mental attitude• Contributes to more restful sleepContributes to more restful sleep• Obtain some type of exercise dailyObtain some type of exercise daily

GOOD POSTUREGOOD POSTURE

• Prevents fatigue and puts less stress Prevents fatigue and puts less stress on muscleson muscles

• Stand straight with stomach muscles Stand straight with stomach muscles pulled in, shoulders relaxed, and wt. pulled in, shoulders relaxed, and wt. balanced equally on both feetbalanced equally on both feet

AVOID USE OF TOBACCO & AVOID USE OF TOBACCO & DRUGSDRUGS

• Use of these seriously affects healthUse of these seriously affects health• Tobacco affects function of heart, Tobacco affects function of heart,

circulation, lungs and digestive systemcirculation, lungs and digestive system• Smoke is very offensive to many peopleSmoke is very offensive to many people• Most facilities are now “smoke-free” Most facilities are now “smoke-free”

environmentsenvironments• Alcohol & drugs affect mental functionAlcohol & drugs affect mental function• Decreases ability to make decisionsDecreases ability to make decisions• Affects many body systemsAffects many body systems• Use of a substance can result in loss of a jobUse of a substance can result in loss of a job

Professional Professional AppearanceAppearance

UniformUniform• Should be neat Should be neat

clean, free from clean, free from wrinkles, fit wellwrinkles, fit well

ClothingClothing• Clean, neat, good repairClean, neat, good repair• Style should allow for freedomStyle should allow for freedom

of body movementof body movement• Should be appropriate for positionShould be appropriate for position• Clean, neat jeans may be appropriate Clean, neat jeans may be appropriate

for recreational therapist.for recreational therapist.• Jeans not appropriate for many health Jeans not appropriate for many health

occupationsoccupations

Name BadgeName Badge• Name, title, department Name, title, department • Health care workers are required to Health care workers are required to

wear identificationwear identification• Many hospitals require photo badgeMany hospitals require photo badge

ShoesShoes• White often requiredWhite often required• Fit wellFit well• Provide good supportProvide good support• Low heelsLow heels• Avoid tennis shoes unless are Avoid tennis shoes unless are

standard dressstandard dress• No open toesNo open toes• Avoid colored or patterned stockingsAvoid colored or patterned stockings

Personal HygienePersonal Hygiene• Daily bath/showerDaily bath/shower• DeodorantDeodorant• Good oral hygieneGood oral hygiene• Avoid perfumes, aftershave, scented Avoid perfumes, aftershave, scented

hairsprayhairspray

NailsNails• Should be short and cleanShould be short and clean• Long nails can injure patients and Long nails can injure patients and

transmit germstransmit germs• Long nails can puncture glovesLong nails can puncture gloves• No colored polishNo colored polish• No artificial nailsNo artificial nails

HairHair• Clean and neatClean and neat• No extreme styles or colorsNo extreme styles or colors• Long hair must be pulled back in Long hair must be pulled back in

order to avoid obstructing vision & order to avoid obstructing vision & falling into patientfalling into patient

JewelryJewelry• Jewelry generally not permitted Jewelry generally not permitted

exceptions maybe a watch, wedding exceptions maybe a watch, wedding ring, small pierced earringsring, small pierced earrings

• Can cause injury to pt. , transmit Can cause injury to pt. , transmit microbesmicrobes

MakeupMakeup• Excess should be avoidedExcess should be avoided• Purpose is to create a natural Purpose is to create a natural

appearanceappearance

Personal Personal CharacteristicsCharacteristics

EmpathyEmpathy• Ability to identify with others, understand Ability to identify with others, understand

another’s feelings and motivesanother’s feelings and motives• Must have sincere interest in working Must have sincere interest in working

with peoplewith people• Care about others and be able to Care about others and be able to

communicate with themcommunicate with them• Understand needs and learning effective Understand needs and learning effective

communications one way to develop communications one way to develop empathy.empathy.

HonestyHonesty• Integrity & truthfulnessIntegrity & truthfulness• Others must be able to trust youOthers must be able to trust you• Be willing to admit mistakes so they Be willing to admit mistakes so they

can be corrected. can be corrected.

DependabilityDependability• Prompt in reporting to workPrompt in reporting to work• Perform tasks on time & accuratelyPerform tasks on time & accurately• Accept responsibility that your Accept responsibility that your

position requiresposition requires

Willingness to learnWillingness to learn• Will likely need to learn new Will likely need to learn new

techniques & procedurestechniques & procedures• Lifelong learnerLifelong learner• Changes will occurChanges will occur• Maintain competent level of Maintain competent level of

knowledge & skillsknowledge & skills

PatiencePatience• Tolerant & understandingTolerant & understanding• Control temper & “count to ten”Control temper & “count to ten”• Learn to deal with frustration and Learn to deal with frustration and

overcome obstaclesovercome obstacles

Acceptance of criticismAcceptance of criticism

• Patients, employers, co-workers & Patients, employers, co-workers & others may criticize youothers may criticize you

• Some criticism will be constructive Some criticism will be constructive and allow you to improve your work.and allow you to improve your work.

• Must be willing to accept and be Must be willing to accept and be willing to learn from it.willing to learn from it.

EnthusiasmEnthusiasm• Must enjoy your Must enjoy your

workwork• Display a positive Display a positive

attitudeattitude• Concentrate on + Concentrate on +

pointspoints

Self-motivationSelf-motivation• Follow through with a taskFollow through with a task• InitiativeInitiative• Set goals and work to reach the Set goals and work to reach the

goalsgoals

TactTact

• Having the ability to say the kindest or Having the ability to say the kindest or most appropriate thing in a difficult most appropriate thing in a difficult situationsituation

• Everyone has a right to their own Everyone has a right to their own feelings and these feelings should not feelings and these feelings should not be judged as right or wrongbe judged as right or wrong

• Shows consideration of the feelings of Shows consideration of the feelings of othersothers

• Requires constant practiceRequires constant practice

CompetenceCompetence• Qualified and capable of performing Qualified and capable of performing

a taska task• Follow instructionsFollow instructions• Strive for accuracyStrive for accuracy• Use approved proceduresUse approved procedures• Know your limits and ask for helpKnow your limits and ask for help if neededif needed

ResponsibilityResponsibility• Being willing to be held accountable Being willing to be held accountable

for your actionsfor your actions• Meet your obligationsMeet your obligations• Do what you are supposed to doDo what you are supposed to do

DiscretionDiscretion• Use good judgment in what you say Use good judgment in what you say

and doand do• Ensure patient’s rights are not Ensure patient’s rights are not

violatedviolated• Health care-you will have accessHealth care-you will have access to confidential info-should to confidential info-should not be told to anyone withoutnot be told to anyone without authorizationauthorization

Team playerTeam player• Learn to work well with othersLearn to work well with others• Each member must do his or her Each member must do his or her

part to provide the pt. with quality part to provide the pt. with quality carecare

• By working together, a team can By working together, a team can accomplish goals much faster than accomplish goals much faster than an individualan individual

SUMMARYSUMMARY• All characteristics and attitudes must be All characteristics and attitudes must be

practiced and learnedpracticed and learned• Some take more time to develop than Some take more time to develop than

othersothers• Be aware of these characteristicsBe aware of these characteristics• Strive constantly to improveStrive constantly to improve• Will help you provide good patient careWill help you provide good patient care• Will make you valuable asset to your Will make you valuable asset to your

employer and othersemployer and others