Chapter 4
Work Ethics
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Professionalism involves:
• Following laws
• Being ethical
• Having good work ethics
• Having the skills to do your work
 Work ethics deal with behavior in the
workplace.
 Work ethics involve:
• How you look
• What you say
• How you behave
• How you treat others
• How you work with others
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Slide 2
HEALTH, HYGIENE, & APPEARANCE
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Your health
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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.
Take only those drugs ordered by a doctor in the
prescribed way.
Never report to work under the influence of alcohol.
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Slide 3
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Personal hygiene needs careful attention.
• Bathe daily.
• Use a deodorant or antiperspirant to prevent body
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odors.
Brush your teeth often.
Use a mouthwash to prevent breath odors.
Shampoo often.
Keep fingernails clean, short, and neatly shaped.
Menstrual hygiene is important.
Foot care prevents odors and infection.
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GETTING A JOB
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Employers want to hire people who:
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Are dependable
Are well-groomed
Have needed job skills and training
Have values and attitudes that fit with the agency
Being dependable is important.
Employers need to know that you can do the
required job skills.
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Slide 5
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Job applications
• How you fill out the application may mean getting or
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not getting the job.
Some agencies provide job applications on-line.
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Follow the agency’s instructions for completing and
sending an on-line application.
A job application is easier to complete if you have a file
of your education and work history.
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Slide 6
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The job interview is the employer’s chance to
get to know and evaluate you.
• You find out more about the agency.
• Type a list of your skills and give the list to the
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interviewer.
You need to be neat, clean, and well-groomed.
Be on time.
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Slide 7
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When you arrive for the interview:
• Turn off you wireless phone or pager.
• Tell the receptionist your name and why you are there.
• Give the interviewer’s name.
• Sit quietly in the waiting area.
• Do not smoke or chew gum.
• Smile and be polite and friendly.
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Slide 8
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For the interview:
• Greet the interviewer in a polite manner.
• Stand until asked to take a seat.
• When sitting, use good posture.
• Have good eye contact.
• Watch your body language.
• Avoid distracting habits.
• Keep your mind on the interview.
• Give complete and honest answers.
• Speak clearly and with confidence.
• Avoid short and long answers.
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Slide 9
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The interviewer will ask about your skills.
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Share your skills list.
You can ask questions at the end of the interview.
Review the job description with the interviewer.
Ask questions about:
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Pay rate
Work hours
Benefits
Tuition reimbursement and scholarship programs
Uniform requirements
The new employee orientation program
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Slide 10
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Accept the job that is best for you.
When you accept a job:
• Agree on a starting date, pay rate, and work hours.
• Find out where to report on your first day.
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Ask for the information in writing.
Ask for the employee handbook and other agency
information.
Read everything before you start working.
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Slide 11
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New employee orientation
• The agency’s policy and procedure manual is
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reviewed.
Your skills are checked.
You are shown how to use the agency’s supplies and
equipment.
Some agencies have preceptor programs.
If you do not feel comfortable after your preceptor
program, ask for more orientation time.
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Slide 12
PREPARING FOR WORK
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Having a job is a privilege.
To keep your job, you must:
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Work when scheduled
Get to work on time
Stay the entire shift
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Slide 13
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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 how you get to and from work.
• Always have a back-up plan for getting to work.
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Slide 14
TEAMWORK ON THE JOB
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Practice good work ethics.
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Work when scheduled.
Be cheerful and friendly.
Perform delegated tasks.
Be available to help others.
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Help them willingly.
Be kind to others.
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Slide 15
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Attendance
• Report to work when scheduled and on time.
• Call the agency if you will be late or cannot go to work.
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Follow the agency’s attendance policy.
Be ready to work when your shift starts.
Attendance also means staying the entire shift.
You may need to work overtime.
When it is time to leave, report off-duty to the nurse.
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Slide 16
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Your attitude
• Show that you enjoy your work.
• Listen to others.
• Be willing to learn.
• Stay busy and use your time well.
• Always think before you speak.
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Slide 17
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To avoid being a part of gossip:
• Remove yourself from a group or situation where
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gossip is occurring.
Do not make or repeat any comment that can hurt
others.
Do not make or repeat any comment that you do not
know to be true.
Do not talk about patients, residents, family members,
visitors, co-workers, or the agency at home or in social
settings.
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Slide 18
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Confidentiality
• The person’s information is shared only among health
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team members involved in his or her care.
The person has the right to privacy and confidentiality.
Agency and co-worker information also is confidential.
Share information only with the nurse.
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Slide 19
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Hygiene and appearance
• How you look affects the way people think about you
and the agency.
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Speech and language
• Your speech and language must be professional.
Courtesies
• Even the smallest kind act can brighten someone’s
day.
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Personal matters
• Personal matters cannot interfere with the job.
• You could lose your job for tending to personal matters
while at work.
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Slide 20
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Meals and breaks
• Meals and breaks are scheduled so that some staff are
always on the unit.
Leave for and return from breaks on time.
Tell the nurse when you leave and return to the unit.
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 Job safety
• Everyone is responsible for safety.
• You must protect patients, residents, families, visitors,
co-workers, and yourself from harm.
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Slide 21
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Plan your work to:
Give safe, thorough care
Make good use of your time
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Slide 22
MANAGING STRESS
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Stress is normal.
Stressors are pleasant or unpleasant.
Stress affects the whole person:
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Physically
Mentally
Socially
Spiritually
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Slide 23
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Dealing with stress is important.
Stress affects:
• You
• The care you give
• The person’s quality of life
• How you relate to co-workers
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Slide 24
HARASSMENT
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Harassment means to trouble, torment, offend,
or worry a person by one’s behavior or
comments.
Harassment can be sexual.
Harassment can involve age, race, ethnic
background, religion, or disability.
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Slide 25
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Harassment is not legal in the workplace.
Sexual harassment involves unwanted sexual
behaviors by another.
Victims of sexual harassment may be men or
women.
• Men harass women or men.
• Women harass men or women.
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Slide 26
RESIGNING FROM A JOB
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Whatever the reason, you need to tell your
employer.
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Giving 2-weeks notice is a good practice.
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Give a written notice.
Do not leave a job without notice.
An exit interview is common practice.
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Slide 27
LOSING A JOB
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To protect your job, function at your best.
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Always practice good work ethics.
DRUG TESTING
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Drug and alcohol use affects patient, resident,
and staff safety.
Review your agency’s policy for when and how
you might be tested.
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Slide 28