Qualities of Health Assistants questions with correct answers

Personality Traits To be successful, health assistants, like all other health care workers, must demonstrate certain personality traits. Some of these traits may not be natural for every health assistant. All health assistants must be committed to developing these attitudes and personal characteristics. Desirable traits for health assistants include: - Having a positive attitude - Interacting appropriately - Following rules - Solving problems - Managing stress effectively Have a Positive Attitude Health assistants must display a positive attitude in their daily activities. A positive spirit is contagious and can create a pleasant environment for patients and co-workers. Interact Appropriately - When health assistants interact with patients and co-workers, they must be professional and appropriate at all times. This involves being respectful of all people. Health assistants must never be judgmental. Instead, people's differences should be valued. - Patient interaction is a part of most health assistants' jobs. Feeling confident, comfortable, and competent during patient interaction takes practice and experience. After all, health assistants must communicate effectively with patients while also providing care. - Health assistants must also effectively communicate with their co-workers. Just as with patients, health assistants must put aside all personal prejudice and treat team members fairly and equally so that they can communicate effectively. How should health assistants interact with patients and co-workers? A) Disrespectfully B) Judgmentally C) Professionally C) Professionally Health assistants should criticize ethnic differences in the workplace. (T or F) False Follow Rules Compliance is a desirable trait for health assistants. Health assistants must follow the rules of the facility where they are employed. - Following the attendance policies - Arriving to work on time - Wearing appropriate dress - Adhering to the lines of authority - Performing only the tasks in their scope of practice - Obeying all general rules, guidelines, and standards Health assistants must follow the rules, guidelines, and standards of the facility where they are employed (T or F) True Part of following the rules is to arrive to work on time. (T or F) True Solve Problems Health assistants must use problem solving skills to find solutions that are not always obvious. Problem solving is the ability to analyze a situation and reach a reasonable conclusion. This skill requires looking at the big picture and combining factual knowledge with creative thinking. The problem solving method may be used by health assistants to find solutions for problems. However, there are several items that health assistants must remember before implementing a plan: - In a health care setting, problem solving involves more than just one person. For example, a medical treatment problem involves the patient, the patient's family, and the health care team. Before acting on a problem, it may be necessary to consult with multiple people. - When working with a team, compromise may be needed. If a team is working to find the best possible solution to a problem, compromise may be used to arrive at a solution that works for every team member. - Health assistants must never perform tasks that are outside their scope of practice. If a solution requires a task that health assistants are not allowed to perform, they must consult their supervisor immediately. When using the problem solving method, the answer is always obvious. (T or F) False In problem solving, what is used to find a solution? A) Creative thinking B) Factual knowledge C) All of the above C) All of the above Health assistants always solve problems individually. (T or F) False When working with a team to solve a problem, which of the following traits should be demonstrated? A) Compromise B) Independence C) Stubbornness D) Inflexibility A) Compromise What should a health assistant do if a solution to a problem requires a task that is outside of their scope of practice? A) Consult the supervisor B) Perform the task anyway C) Ask a co-worker for help D) Abandon the task A) Consult the supervisor Manage Stress Effectively - Although health care careers can be very rewarding, they can also be both physically and emotionally demanding. - In some settings, patients require around-the-clock care, and therefore, health assistants are required to work in shifts that may be longer than eight hours. Shift work can interfere with sleep patterns. If patient care is not complete at the end of a shift, health assistants need to stay until procedures are done or another worker can take over care. - In addition, health assistants may deal with critical incidents. They may also face pressure when treating patients who are scared or in pain. And not all patients recover from their illnesses, so it is normal for health assistants to have to deal with the grief that accompanies death. - These demands can lead to stress. Health assistants need to figure out which strategies work best for them to cope with workplace stress. They should find out what services are offered by their place of work or any professional organizations to which they belong. Knowing the best ways to cope with stress helps health assistants to do a better job. (T or F) True Communication - Health assistants must be able to communicate effectively. Communication is the process of exchanging messages. This involves sharing information and receiving feedback about the information. A good communicator is able to judge when it is appropriate to speak and when it is necessary to listen. - Health assistants must learn to communicate with co-workers and patients. Communication can be verbal, written, or nonverbal. All methods of communication must be straightforward, understandable, and accurate. Verbal Communication - Verbal communication is the use of language and words to send and receive information. Verbal communication can take place face-to-face or over the telephone. It can also occur one-to-one or in a group. Verbal communication is the communication form people use most often, and it is the most effective. It allows for instant feedback and discussion. It can end confusion instantly and bring about clarity and understanding. The goals for verbal communication in the health care environment usually include: - Establish rapport, or a connection - Obtain information from patients - Confirm understanding - Relay information to other health care workers - Give instructions to patients The use of language and words to send and receive information is _______ communication. verbal Which of the following is a goal of verbal communication in health care? A) Give instructions to patients B) Confirm understanding C) Relay information to other health care workers D) Establish rapport, or a connection E) All of the above E) All of the above Verbal communication can only occur one-on-one and face-to-face. (T or F) False Tone of Voice ("It's not what you say, but how you say it." ) - This saying refers to tone of voice. A speaker's feelings are expressed through tone of voice. A health care worker's tone is very revealing to a patient. Patients can easily pick up on fear, agitation, calmness, and confidence from a health care worker's volume, rate, and pitch. - Health care workers must be aware of how they sound. If they can adjust their tone of voice appropriately to the situation, it can become an effective communication tool. They can use their tone to calm and reassure patients, even if the news is bad. Language Choice - With so many medical terms to know, health care workers practically speak a different language. The medical language is necessary when conversing with co-workers. However, when interacting with patients, medical concepts must be communicated using lay terms. Lay terms are everyday language that patients can understand. For example, instead of saying "lumbar," say "lower back." Instead of "costae," say "ribs." - At the same time, health care workers must avoid talking down to patients by over-simplifying their language. They should also avoid making noises such as "uh" and "um," which are meaningless. Finally, they should be careful to enunciate words and avoid mumbling. The result is health care workers who sound professional and knowledgeable. That professionalism builds patients' confidence in health care workers. Tone of voice has very little impact on what someone is saying. (T or F) False Which term refers to everyday language that patients can understand? A) Legal terms B) Say terms C) Lay terms D) All of the above C) Lay terms Written Communication - Written communication is a form of verbal communication. Depending on the situation, there are benefits to using written communication. Written communication allows the writer time to research and to organize thoughts. Additionally, once written, it can be proofread and edited before it reaches its audience. - Written communication must be accurate and clear. And it should be brief with logical organization. It should be free of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Finally, written communication should include vocabulary that is appropriate for the reader. Health care workers use written communication for the following items: - Messages and orders - Test results - Notes in patient charts - Informed consent documents - Procedures and policies - Patient education material - Surveys - Letters and memos Which of the following is a benefit of written communication over oral communication? A) It can be researched and edited. B) It allows for instant feedback. C) All of the above. A) It can be researched and edited. Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication includes methods used in addition to or as a substitute for language. Nonverbal communication includes the following methods: - Eye contact and facial expressions - Gestures and body language - Physical appearance - Touch - Proximity Which of the following is a method of nonverbal communication? A) Touch B) Proximity C) Physical appearance D) Facial expressions E) All of the above E) All of the above Eye Contact and Facial Expressions Eye contact is one form of facial expression. Direct eye contact usually sends a powerful and positive message. Smiles also generally communicate a positive message. However, an artificial smile can often be detected by others. Other facial expressions communicate, as well. - A blank stare can indicate fever. - A grimace can express pain. - A bland look can suggest depression. Health care workers must be conscious of both interpreting facial expressions in others and in mastering their own expression to be sure that they are sending the appropriate message. Health care workers should strive for an open, friendly expression that is neither too solemn nor too cheerful. Gestures and Body Language - What can the tapping of a foot imply? Crossing the arms? Waving? In addition to facial expressions, people can communicate through body language and gestures. Body language sends powerful messages to others. At times, people use their bodies instead of words, such as when someone nods or shakes the head. - Posture also conveys a message. People who stand up straight exude confidence, while people who slouch appear unsure of themselves. - Health care workers must be skilled both in reading and in using gestures and body language effectively. They should be sure to lean forward slightly when interacting with patients. This body language shows interest in the patient. Describe the facial expression that a health care worker should strive for. A) Not too solemn B) Open C) Not too cheerful D) Friendly E) All of the above E) All of the above Health care workers should lean back and away from patients to appear interested in the conversation. (T or F) False Physical Appearance - In the health care industry, many workers wear uniforms. Their uniforms send the message that they belong to the health care field. Depending on the patient, this message can have positive or negative effects. Some patients take comfort from the image of someone in uniform, while others are intimidated or frightened by it. Health care workers must be aware of these opposing views and be sensitive to how they interact with patients based on how their appearance is received. - In addition to uniforms, physical appearance is also expressed by grooming. Someone who is well-groomed communicates a positive message. Someone that is disheveled and not properly groomed can send a negative message. Piercings, facial hair, and overdone make-up can negatively communicate to others.