TEN

Caring for Yourself

Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3: Unit 4: Unit 5:
Assignments

Describe how to find a great job Describe ways to be a great employee Review guidelines for behaving professionally on the job Describe continuing education for nursing assistants Define stress and discuss ways to manage it Textbook Reading: pp. 179-186 Workbook Exercises: pp. 65-68 This chapter is as much a motivational chapter as a learning one. It focuses on the nursing assistant, rather than the resident. In this chapter the students will be asked to stop and think about their career directions, including how to secure a job, how to have a good relationship with their employer, and the importance of maintaining their continuing education. In addition, the students are encouraged to learn how to manage their stress effectively. Students will also be asking the question, Where do I go from here? The instructor should encourage the students to think about how they see themselves in their new career and how they will conduct themselves professionally now and in the future. Hopefully the students will be motivated to set some goals for themselves to stay as mentally and physically healthy as possible. Many stress management programs on video or audio tapes are available at local libraries and would be very effective as a classroom experience. Guest speakers could speak to the class about wellness and healthy lifestyles, which would add an interesting outside resource to the chapter. If the instructor is affiliated with a facility it would be beneficial if the students could review actual examples of hiring paperwork and employee applications. Any policies which explain company hiring guidelines, criminal check forms, hiring skills tests, competency on-hire exams, or job descriptions could be brought to class and reviewed by the students. If the students have an opportunity to practice a job interview or the hiring process first, they will be more confident during an actual interview, when getting a job depends on their success.

Overview of Teaching Strategies

Meeting the Learning Objective Textbook pp. 179-181 Workbook pp. 65-66

Unit 1: Describe how to find a great job

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Lecture and Discussion

Discuss how to target potential employers by using the following sources: Classified ads Yellow pages Internet Instructors and their employers and contacts Ask the students if they can think of any other sources and how they heard about the NA course they are taking.

Group Project

As a project, ask the students to bring in the classified sections of their newspapers and break into small groups and discuss the possible opportunities. Are there qualifications for some jobs, such as work experience, that will be a challenge to the new student just graduating? What kinds of healthcare settings are available for the NAs to work? Discuss the general information needed for a job application, including: Your address and phone Birth date and social security number Training school and dates Previous employers names, addresses, and dates of employment References, including their phone numbers Availability (days and hours) Statement of why you are changing jobs or want to work as an NA Discuss how to look professional for an interview and what questions to ask. Role-play job interviews with the students. The instructor will role play the interviewer asking the questions found in the book. Each student should take a turn being interviewed. Remind them to shake hands and to make an exit remark and to write a follow-up thank you letter.

Lecture

Meeting the Learning Objective Textbook pp. 181-182 Workbook p. 66 Lecture

Unit 2: Describe ways to be a great employee

Discuss the difference between hostile criticism and constructive criticism and the best response to hostility, which is, Im sorry you are so disappointed. Discuss the ways to make constructive criticism beneficial, such as: Ask for details. 99

Ask for suggestions. Apologize and move on.

Emphasize giving written notice before leaving a job.

Role Play

Role play the NA and employer when the NA is giving written notice of leaving a job that will be very difficult to cover because the facility is understaffed. Unit 3: Review guidelines for behaving professionally on the job

Meeting the Learning Objective Textbook p. 182 Workbook pp. 66-67 Lecture and Discussion

Review these guidelines for behaving professionally: Be responsible. Call if you cant make it to work. Be on time. Be clean and neatly dressed and groomed. Maintain a positive attitude. Follow policies and procedures. Document and report carefully. Ask questions. Communicate with residents and staff. Report anything that keeps you from completing duties. Offer positive suggestions for improvement. Ask the students if they can think of any other examples of professional behavior.

Meeting the Learning Objective Textbook p. 183 Workbook p. 67 Lecture

Unit 4: Describe continuing education for nursing assistants

Ask the students to review your facilitys policies on continuing education and discuss it in class. Discuss the following areas of responsibility the NA has for receiving continuing education: Sign up and know the location. Attend class and be on time. Pay attention and complete requirements. Participate. Keep records of attendance.

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Meeting the Learning Objective Textbook pp. 183-186 Workbook pp. 67-68 Lecture and Discussion

Unit 5: Define stress and discuss ways to manage it

Define the terms stress and stressor, including positive and negative situations causing stress. Discuss the causes or stressors given in the textbook (p. 184). Ask the students to relate them to their own lives. Discuss how diet and exercise affect stress by promoting a healthy, coping body that is relaxed and free from the effects of stress. Review the following guidelines for managing stress: Healthy diet Exercise Enough sleep Drinking in moderation Not smoking Discuss serious affects of not managing stress on p. 184 of textbook. Emphasize the importance of managing stress. Discuss the following seven sources of help for NAs given in the textbook: Supervisor Family Friends Church Physician Mental health agency Phone hot line Remind students that talking to residents about their stress is NOT appropriate.

Activity

Discuss the five questions found on p. 185 in the textbook to answer before developing a personal stress management plan. Ask the students to write down their answers to them on a piece of paper. Referring to the workbook exercise, have each student write a personal stress management plan, including diet, exercise, relaxation, entertainment, etc. OR Ask the students to form NA support groups, with approximately six to eight members in each one. They should get together and have a meeting for 20 or 30 minutes to discuss and share their stress problems.

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Activity

Review the relaxation exercise, the body scan, as a short technique NAs may use on a break at work: Demonstrate this exercise. Add some quiet music or a candle or other aromatherapy technique. Ask the students if they have any other techniques they use to relax such as warm baths or massages. Ask the students to bring in music they find particularly relaxing. Play these for the class, and discuss how different persons find different types of music relaxing. Discuss the usefulness of the body scan for residents who are stressed. Chapter Review

Case Study

You answer an ad in the newspaper for a job that requires a certain type of experience that you do not have. You are, however, very interested in learning more about this type of care and really want this job because of that possible opportunity. How would you approach your interviewer when asked about experience? Would you answer yes to these questions when asked by the personnel director in order to get your foot in the door? How could you be honest and still ask for this opportunity? After you are interviewed, what would be the follow-up actions to take, even if the interview did not go well? How could you have prepared for such an interview? Distribute Chapter 10: Assessment (Appendix C, p. 210) Allow students enough time to finish the test. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. True False True False False True True 8. True 9. a 10. c 11. b 12. a

Assessment

Assessment Answers

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