Nurturing Personal and Professional Attributes for Success

1. Chapter 10: Personal Qualities and Professional Skills for Success

2. Personal Attributes • Enthusiasm • Optimism • Self-esteem • Honesty • Patience • Cooperation • Organization • Responsibility • Flexibility • Sociability

3. Professional Attributes • Professional Qualities and Skills • Dedication to public service • Being motivated by job fulfillment • Trustworthiness • Good time management • Initiative, problem solving, & critical thinking • Good communication skills

4. Professional Attributes (cont’d) • Professional Qualities and Skills (cont’d) • Competence: a willingness to: • Learn • Change • Admit mistakes • Accept criticism

5. Professional Attributes (cont’d) • Professional Attitude and Behavior • Outward display of personal & professional qualities & skills • Appropriate use of: • Language • Manners • Dress • Display of: • Integrity • Honesty • Dependability

6. Values • Value System • A person’s ranked personal principles • Leads to a personal code of conduct • Influences beliefs about: • Human needs • Health • Illness • Impacts how you practice health care & respond to illness

7. Values (cont’d) • Development of Values • Not inborn • Formed from: • Experiences • Family, cultural, & environmental influences

8. Values (cont’d) • Important Values in Health Care • Tactfulness & discretion in handling private medical information • Respect for a patient’s right to confidentiality • Sensitivity to a patient’s: • Situation • Condition • Needs

9. Values (cont’d) • Important Values in Health Care (cont’d) • Altruism: a concern for the welfare & well-being of others • Demonstrating an understanding of others’: • Cultures • Beliefs • Perspectives • Advocating for patients (particularly the most vulnerable) • Taking risks on behalf of patients & colleagues • Mentoring other professionals

10. Values (cont’d) • Important Values in Health Care (cont’d) • Respect for Patient Autonomy • Planning a patient’s care in partnership with the patient • Honoring the right of patients & their families to make decisions about health care • Providing information so patients can make informed choices

11. Values (cont’d) • Important Values in Health Care (cont’d) • Respect for Human Dignity • Providing culturally sensitive care • Protecting the patient’s privacy • Preserving the confidentiality of patient & health care provider information • Designing care with sensitivity to individual patient needs

12. Stress Management • Types of Stress • Eustress (good stress): motivates one to: • Complete tasks • Meet deadlines • Solve problems • Distress (bad stress): causes: • Anxiety • Lack of focus • Overeating or undereating • Lack of participation in & enjoyment of normal activities

13. Stress Management (cont’d) • Stress Producers • Living a chaotic or disorderly lifestyle • Lacking the ability to say “no” • Taking problems & criticism personally • Maintaining unrealistic expectations • Dealing with excessive demands • Remaining inflexible • Suffering self-doubt

14. Stress Management (cont’d) • Strategies for Coping with Stress • Set priorities • Keep life & work simple • Identify & reduce stress producers • Shift thinking • Enlist social support • Relax & renew

15. Personal Health • Nutrition • Adequate fuel for the body • Healthy food • Healthy body weight • MyPyramid.gov

16. Personal Health (cont’d) • Exercise • Keeps energy level up • Improves self-esteem • Strengthens heart (aerobic activities) • Reduces stress • Maintains healthy body weight

17. Personal Health (cont’d) • Sleep: Disrupting Factors • Caffeine • Nicotine • Alcohol • Foods that cause heartburn

18. Personal Health (cont’d) • Personal Hygiene and Grooming • Clean, pressed, & tear-free clothing • Polished, unsoiled, & professionally appropriate shoes • Plain & simple jewelry