Self-awareness: Health Care Worker

This essay will explore some of the aspects of self-awareness, with description and definition for use to the health care worker in the health care setting from various educators in all fields of health care from various aspects of evidence-based practice that involves, includes and is open to developmental learning for continuous improvement with Client-Health Care Worker outcomes. Self-awareness is the mental, psychological and physical attributes that are ingrained into the human psych to manage society with encompassing emotional intelligence and empathy by acknowledging one’s own feelings and thoughts.

Multiple amounts of literature regarding client care is available to the beginner and the practising health care professional specifically to teach and revise the learning process for current and future education (Unal 2012). The medical field is vast and ever-changing from evidence-based practices for all medical fields and employees for optimum client care (Unal 2012). Learning through life and education stems from communication. The health care worker has to draw on their personal interactions and education for the positive and professional setting (Charney 1994).

For a health care worker to establish any form of communication with a client is to put their own self-awareness into action at the first introduction to consultation by being introspective (Cumbie 2001). The ability to express genuine empathy with emotional-intelligence is intrinsic to the health care worker in every health care field (Atkins 2008). The initial health care worker introduction and the client with health concerns begin with the introduction of eye contact.

Depending on the cultural background of the client, eye contact holds a welcome message from clear and concise conversation, their expressions of interest and understanding, with professionalism and compassion to invite acknowledgment and to invoke trust and respect. This is the health care workers first step for the client onto the path of the therapeutic relationship from competence and confidence of the health care worker all contributing to the levels of communication that encourage trust with the client (Atkins 2011).

The basic human trait to be apprehensive when engaging in the need for medical assistance brings forth all aspects of self-awareness with compassion, understanding and support to the health care worker, thus alleviating stress to the client to ensuring the path to the client and health care worker’s overall homeostasis. These characteristics of the health care worker are to stabilise the client to begin their journey to wellness (Atkins 2011).

In the health care setting we are faced with self-awareness on a daily basis with a broad spectrum of clients with diverse health issues from diverse cultural backgrounds. The health care worker learnings from specialised educator teachings from their many health care fields covers an abundance of information to assist the health care worker from evidence-based practices that are to promote and encourage both client and health care worker inner health and well-being (Cabe & Timmins 2003).

When there is the cultural diversity of the client another aspect of care is approached by the health care worker to enlist their abilities to disperse congruent practice (Dewey 1933). Clients of differing socio-economic backgrounds may be of concern, but the health care worker is taught to absorb self-awareness and professionalism. The health care workers discretion with awareness of their emotions will encourage the clients comfort and ease.

For the health care worker role to be professional, ethical, objective and non-judgemental they must use self-awareness to monitor their thoughts, beliefs, strengths and weaknesses. Assertiveness from emotional expression (Ellis & Hartley 2005) and all facets of self-esteem will allow for better health care worker and client interaction (Battle 1990). It is known and documented the people with high self-esteem are more sensitive, tolerant and patient toward fellow human beings (Sherwood & Freshwater 2005).

It has long been considered that interpersonal processes of the health care worker is a founding aspect of client care to open the doorways with an emotional and effective connection by influencing better client health outcomes (Peplau 1952). As client conditions and circumstance varies, communication awareness and skills that come from one’s life experiences may be brought into effect when dealing with particular cases. Critical analysis at first observation may show client emotions to then commence the duty of care by the health care worker.

These ideas are demonstrated in the ANMC National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse. For example, the nurse must practice within a professional and ethical nursing framework (ANMC 2006). Without these principles there is minimal chance of effective communication as the prospective relationship could be blurred with bias (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council (AMNC 2006). In conclusion, self-awareness is crucial to all health care workers to aid in identifying and implementing appropriate behaviours when dealing with clients from diverse backgrounds.

Numerous and varied amounts of literature are constantly being updated for integral implementation. Health care workers need to draw on their own personal perspectives so as to apply self-awareness and emotional intelligence with empathy. Applying self-awareness will foster better relationships with the client which will assist in overall better health outcomes, thus enabling the client to heal and the health care worker to consciously acknowledge the clients progression.

Direct results of self-awareness will enhance better communication channels, further improving the health status of the client.

References:

1. Atkins, K Britton, B & de Lacey, S 2011, Ethics and law for Australian nurses, Cambridge University Press, New York.
2. Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council 2006, National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, viewed 1 April 2013, www. nursingmidwiferyboard. gov. au/documents/default
3. Battle, J 1990, Self-esteem: the new revolution, James Battle & Associates, Canada. Cabe, CM & Timmins, F 2003, ‘Teaching assertiveness to undergraduate nursing students’, Nurse Education in Practice, vol. 3, no. 1, pp30-42.
4. Crisp, J Taylor, C Douglas, C & Rebeiro, G 2013, Potter & Perry’s fundamentals of nursing, 4th edn, Mosby Elsevier, Australia.
5. Ellis, J & Hratley, C 2005, Managing and coordinating nursing care, 4th edn, Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia.
6. Fawcett, J 1995, Analysis and evaluation of conceptual models of nursing, 3rd edn, Davis, Philadelphia. McQueen, A 2000, ‘Nurse-patient relationships and partnership in hospital care’, Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol. 9, no. 5, pp723-731.
7. Peplau, HE 1952, Intrapersonal relations in nursing, Putnam Sons, New York. * Sully, P & Nicol, M 2005, Essential communication skills for nursing, Elsevier Mosby, London.
8. Unal, S 2012, ‘Evaluating the effect of self-awareness and communication techniques on nurses’ assertiveness and self-esteem’, Contemporary Nurse, vol. 43, no. 1, pp90-98.