Health and Professionalism

Personal Attributes

• Enthusiasm is defined as being passionate about work with active interest in duties.
• Optimism, a positive outlook, impacts job performance.
• Self-esteem leads to confidence in one's skills..
• Honesty is critical for earning trust.
• Remaining calm requires patience
• Cooperation involves interacting well with other team members.
• Organization is key to success.
• Responsibility is needing to be counted on.
• Flexibility is not always 9 to 5 work hours.
• Sociability involves interpersonal skills with patients and team.

Professional Attributes

• These are essential qualities for individuals in health care.
• It is difficult to define, but consists of many characteristics and behaviors.
• "Caring competence" is one of the elements.
• Includes dedication to doing the best.
• Maintaining high-quality service is a part of professional attributes.
• Includes dedication to public service
• Being motivated by job fulfillment is a professional attribute.
• Trustworthiness is an essential trait.
• Good time management is key.
• Initiative, problem-solving, and critical thinking are important attributes.
• Good communication skills are important

Compassion and Empathy

• Compassion involves sincere concern for others.
• Caring is founded on compassion
• Developing empathy requires compassion as a basis
• Requires trying to understand another person's thoughts and feelings.
• It is important to "walk a mile" in someone else's shoes.
• “I'm available to walk this road with you"

Professional Attitude

• Approaching work positively is important.
• It is also necessary to be committed to work.
• Recognizing the impact on patient care is a display of a professsional attitude.
• Situations need to be approached objectively.
• Problems should be seen as opportunities for positive action.
• Self discipline should be developed and practiced

Professional Behaviors

• Being dependable is a key professional behavior.
• Performing all duties as assigned and needed is part of professional behavior
• One must be flexible
• It is important to accept differences.
• One must treat everyone with courtesy and consideration.
• Good communication skills must be practiced.
• Personal problems must be kept separate from work.
• Being organized and planning ahead is crucial.
• Ethics must be followed and high personal standards set.
• Calmness must be conducted.
• Good health should be treated as a role model.
• Professional goals must be set with continual improvement strived after.

Professional Qualities and Skills

• Competence involves a willingness to learn.
• Also includes a willingness to change.
• Crucially, it means admitting mistakes.
• It means being able to accept criticism if and when it happens.

Professional Attitude and Behavior

• It is displayed outwardly as personal and professional qualities and skills.
• Appropriate language must be spoken
• Manners must be applied
• Dress must be appropriate
• Integrity must be displayed
• Honesty is key
• Dependability is crucial

Values

• A value system includes a person's ranked personal principles.
• It leads to a personal code of conduct.
• Additionally, they influence beliefs about human needs, health, and illness.
• Furthermore, it impacts how practiced, and how you respond to illness.
• Development values are not inborn.
• They are instead formed from experiences, and family, cultural, and environmental influences.

Important Values in Health Care

• Tactfulness & discretion in handling private medical information is important.
• Respect for a patient's right to confidentiality is essential.
• Furthermore, it is nececssary to be senstivity to a patient's: situation, condition and needs.
• Altruism refers to a concern for the welfare and well-being of others.
• A good healthcare profession will demonstrate an understanding of differing cultures, beliefs, and perspectives.
• Advocating for patients is crucial, particularly for the most vulnerable patients.
• Taking risks on behalf of patients and colleagues is an act of altruism.
• It also requires mentoring other professionals.
• Respect for patient autonomy involves planning a patient's care in partnership with the patient
• Healthcare workers honor the right of patients and their families to make decisions about health care.
• Additionally, they provide information so patients can make informed choices.
• Respect for human dignity is an important value in healthcare
• Additionally, providing culturally sensitive care is crucial
• Confidentiality of patient and healthcare provider information must be preserved
• Each patient's individual needs musr be assessed and respected

Technical Skills

• It is important to develop an in-depth understanding of work.
• Observation and listening are important.
• Employee manuals should be consulted and used.
• All work should be conducted neatly and accurately.
• Time must be dedicated to acquiring new knowledge and skills.

Stress

• Stress is the body's reaction when it responds to danger.
• The body cannot distinguish between real and imagined danger.
• The reactions are the same to both mental and physical stress.
• This initiates a fight or flight response.
• It can be positive when reactions are needed in emergencies.

Stress Management

• Eustress (good stress) motivates one to complete tasks.
• It also helps one meet deadlines and solve problems
• Distress (bad stress) is caused by anxiety.
• Also a lack of focus causses distress.
• Overeating or undereating are causes of distress.
• Lack of participation in and enjoyment of normal activities also lead to bad stress.
• Brief increases in heart rate and mild elevations in stress hormone levels qualify as positive stress
• Serious, temporary stress responses buffered by supportive relationships are classified as tolerable stress.
• Prolonged activation of stress response systems in the absence of protective relationships are considered toxic stress

Reactions & Effect of Stress

• Physical reactions to stress include increased heart rate.
• Breathing rate increases as well
• Blood pressure is elevated.
• Blood sugar levels are raised.
• Blood vessels are dilated Dilated pupils of the eyes are an effect of physical reactions to stress
• Continual stress can wear the body out.
• Stress has been linked to certain illnesses.
• Over time, stress may weaken the immune system

Stressors & Stress Producers

• Stressors are causes of stress, and can be external
• These factors are beyond an individual's control.
• Stress can also be internal with is self-generated and under individual control.
• Living a chaotic or disorderly lifestyle produces stress.
• Lacking the ability to say "no" stress can be a stress producer.
• Taking problems and criticism personally also leads to stress.
• Maintaining unrealistic expectations can produce stress
• Dealing with excessive demands can be stressful.
• Remaining inflexible is a stress producer.
• Suffering self-doubt causes stress.

Health Care & Solutions

• Patient interactions can be a stressor.
• Remaining calm is crucial.
• Constant attentiveness can take its tool.
• The need to perform tasks accurately.
• Time constraints to complete tasks can cause stress.
• Changing conditions can become a stressor
• Coping with personal stress requires keeping life and work simple.
• One must also set priorities.
• Identifying and reducing stress producers can provide solutions. Shift thinking to change the way you think and feel. In short, changing perspectives to control emotions
• Social support must be enlisted.
• It is important relax and renew.
• Time management strategies must be used.
• Procrastination should be avoided.
• Practice muscle relaxation techniques.
• One must also try meditation.
• Clearing one's mind and developing a positive attitude can improve stress

Substance Abuse

• Substance abuse is growing problem among health care professionals.
• Easy access to medications is a contirbuting isseu.
• High stress and desire to self-medicate compounds this.
• The perceived ability to improve work performance leads to this issue.
• Consequences of substance abuse include blackouts.
• Memory loss and the inability to perform tasks occur.
• A common cause is unethical behavior, like stealing drugs from patients.
• Loss of job and career may arise, and in some cases prison

Personal Health includes Nutrition & Diet

• Nutrition is adequate fuel for the body.
• The body needs healthy food.
• A healthy body weight is key.
• The process of obtaining food necessary for health and growth is nutrition.
• Diet is the type of foods an individual habitually eats.
• Nutrients are substances the body uses to grow and to function.
• A good diet provides all necessary nutrients.
• Essential Nutrients include Proteins, which build and maintain body structures.
• Carbohydrates provide immediate energy.
• Fats provide a concentrated form of energy.
• Essential Nutrients include vitamins and minerals.
• Water is another essential nutrient.

Eating & Weight

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture develops dietary guidelines.
• It is important to variety of vegetables.
• Whole fruits should feature heavily.
• Whole grains is another essential component in eating well.
• Low-fat dairy is beneficial.
• A variety of protein foods should be consumed
• A small about of oils is important for the body.
• "Choose My Plate" website can help people apply dietary guidelines.
• It recommends proportions of foods. The site is choosemyplate.gov
• Maintaining a healthy weight contributes to wellness and prevention of disease.
• 70% of Americans are estimated to be overweight.
• 40% may have obesity issues
• The amount of children who are overweight or obese is increasing

Overweight Issues

• Consequences of excess body weight include high blood pressure.
• Type 2 diabetes is linked to weight.
• Heart disease can occur.
• Also stroke can occur
• Some cancers are linked to excess weight
• High calorie foods that are inexpensive can contribute to obesity
• Limited access to fresh foods is an influencer.
• Genetics can play a factor.
• Sedentary lifestyles and the lacack of safe places or physical activity can contribute to this issue.
• Hormone problems can cause excess weight

Exercise

• Physical Activity promotes feelings of wellbeing due to endorphins.
• Exercise relieves stress
• It can also improve sleep.
• Energy increases with exercise.
• Symptoms of arthritis are reduced.
• Can prevent lower back pain, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
• Exercise can prevent certain types of cancer
• Adults can use 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days per week.
• Childre nand Teens should have 60 minutes per day.
• Physical activity should be incorporated into everyday life

Sleep

• Adequate amounts of sleep are necessary for the body to recuperate.
• Sleep provides energy and increases productivity.
• Mental recuperation takes place during last hours of sleep.
• Six to nine hours is recommended for most adults.
• Avoiding caffeine helps improve sleep.
• Avoid Stressful activities before bedtime.
• One should increase personal efficiency to make more time for sleep.
• It is important also to engage in physical activity during the day, not just before bedtime.
• Developing a bedtime routine will help aid sleep

Preventative Measures, Burnout & More

• Regular health checkups are crucial.
• Periodic screening for risks is an important precaustionary measures
• Regular visits to dentist should be made
• Early treatment of illness is critical
• Vaccinations are also important for health
• Burnout is defined as physical and emotional exhaustion.
• Workplace issues are the main cause
• Some specific causes may be long hours and difficult work conditions.
• Inadequate emotional support leads to burnout
• Emotional involvement with patients could cause overstress
• No time for recreational activities contributes to this as well
• Changes in behavior include examples like negative feelings about work.
• Physical symptoms and increased absences from work as well.
• An individual may often start committing errors.

Preventing Burnout

• Practice good health habits
• Utilize stress-reducing techniques
• Develop assertiveness skills by expressing feelings without being threatening
• Practice good communication skills
• Seek help when needed in order to maintain healthy outlook and productivity

Professional Appearance

• Signifies your professionalism
• In turn patients may have opinions and expectations about one's care.
• Extremes can cause lack of confidence in patient eyes

Conduct

• Avoid perfumes and extreme styles
• Maintain safety of self and others
• Dress in clean, pressed, and tear-free clothing
• Maintain polished, unsoiled and appropriate shoes
• Wear plain and simple Jewelry to work
• Aim for objective and caring response while situation handling
• Understand own behavior and reactions
• Apply problem-solving technique by changing negative habits and behaviors
• It is also important to separate fact from emotion.
• Criticism helps with learning.
• React gracefully and evaluating information one receives, and if appropriate, use for self-improvement

Professionalism

• To avoid inappropriate online activity, do not post any photos of inappropriate behaviour.
• Preventative measures include avoiding negative comments and complaints, rude behaviour, and bullying