When you talk to a patient, you share information with them, and they share information with you. Communication can happen in many ways, such as:
Talking
Writing
Pictures
Drawing
Actions
Understanding the Patient’s Emotions
Empathy: Try to understand how the patient feels. Showing that you care can help build trust and make the patient feel calmer.
Non-Verbal Communication: Pay attention to the patient’s body language, facial expressions, and actions, especially if they can’t talk.
Encouraging Communication
Ask Simple Questions: Use simple yes/no questions or short sentences to help the patient express themselves.
Repeat Back: To make sure you understood, repeat what the patient said in your own words.
Handling Difficult Behavior
Sometimes, patients might act in a way that seems angry or upset. They might hit, bite, push, yell, scream, or kick. Patients might do this because:
They feel frustrated.
They don’t feel well.
It’s just part of their personality.
Remember, it’s not usually about you. The patient is likely reacting to how they feel. But it’s important to write down what happened and tell your supervisor. The care team needs to know about this behavior because it might show that the patient’s health is changing.
How to Respond When a Patient is Upset
Protect Yourself: If the patient tries to hit or kick, block the blows or move out of the way. Never hit back.
Give Them Time: Let the patient calm down before you try to talk to them again.
Keep Them Safe: Make sure the patient is in a safe place.
Give Them Space: Let the patient have some room and don’t crowd them.
Stay Calm: Speak in a calm, quiet voice.
Be Patient: Take your time and be flexible with the patient.
Stay Neutral: Don’t argue or get into a fight with the patient. Stay calm, even if they say something mean.
Use Gentle Movements: Don’t make sudden gestures or movements that might scare the patient.
Be Supportive: Reassure the patient that you are there to help.
Think About the Cause: Try to figure out what might have made the patient upset.
Report the Behavior: Always tell your supervisor about any bad behavior so they can help.
Dealing with Non-Responsive Patients
Gentle Encouragement: Some patients might not respond at all. Keep talking gently and offering encouragement. Even if they don’t answer, they might still hear you and feel comforted by your presence.
Use of Familiar Items: Show the patient familiar objects like photos or favorite items. This can help them feel more at ease and might help them open up.
Involving the Family
Family Support: Encourage family members to be part of the communication process when possible. They can often help calm the patient or provide important information about what might upset or comfort them.
Before you start taking care of a patient, follow these important steps. Doing them each time helps you remember and makes them a habit, ensuring both you and your patient are safe and comfortable.
1. Wash Your Hands:
Washing your hands helps stop the spread of germs and keeps everyone healthy. Many illnesses spread if hands are not washed properly. Always wash your hands before you start taking care of a patient.
How to Wash Your Hands:
Soap and Water: If you have soap and water, scrub your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Make sure to wash all parts of your hands, including between your fingers and under your nails.
Rinse: Rinse your hands with clean, running water.
Hand Sanitizer: If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Rub it all over your hands until they are dry.
Tip: You might need to wash your hands more than once during patient care. Always wash before starting any new task.
2. Explain the Procedure to the Patient and Family
Tell the patient and their family what you are going to do. This helps them feel less worried and more willing to help.
How to Communicate:
Speak Slowly: Use simple words that are easy to understand.
Speak Clearly: Make sure your words are clear and easy to hear.
Eye Contact: Look at the person you are talking to. This helps build trust and ensures they are listening.
Tip: Talking calmly and clearly can help reduce anxiety and make the procedure go more smoothly.
3. Give the Patient Privacy
Make sure the patient feels comfortable and respected by giving them privacy during care.
How to Provide Privacy:
Close Curtains or Doors: Use curtains or doors to create a private space.
Cover the Patient: Use sheets or blankets to cover the patient as needed.
Tip: Privacy helps the patient feel more at ease and respected during care.
4. Keep the Patient Safe
Ensure the patient is safe throughout the care process.
Safety Measures for Patients
Adjustable Bed: If the patient is in a bed that can move, lower the bed to the lowest position and lock the wheels to prevent movement.
Wheelchair: If the patient is in a wheelchair, lock the wheels to keep the chair stable.
Tip: Regularly check that the bed and wheelchair are in the correct position and locked properly.
5. Think About Your Safety
Your safety is also important. Proper positioning and adjustments help prevent injury.
Safety Tips for Caregivers:
Adjustable Bed: Adjust the bed to a height that is comfortable for you to avoid bending or reaching awkwardly.
Proper positioning: Make sure you are in a good position to avoid straining your back or hurting yourself. Use proper lifting techniques.
Tip: If the bed or chair needs to be adjusted, do so before starting the procedure to make it easier and safer for you.
Additional Tips
Routine Checks: Regularly review these steps to ensure you are following them correctly.
Ask for Help: If you are unsure about any procedure or need assistance, ask a supervisor or colleague.
It’s important to follow these steps after you finish taking care of a patient. Doing these steps every time helps you remember them and makes them a habit. This helps keep both you and your patients safe and healthy.
1. Lower the Patient’s Bed
If you raised the bed to take care of the patient, be sure to lower it back down to its lowest position. This helps prevent falls and keeps the patient safe.
Tip: Always check that the bed is locked in place after lowering it.
2. Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands stops the spread of germs and helps keep everyone healthy. Always wash your hands after finishing any patient care.
How to Wash Your Hands:
Soap and Water: Scrub your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Make sure to wash all parts of your hands, including between your fingers and under your nails.
Rinse: Rinse your hands with clean, running water.
Hand Sanitizer: If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Rub it all over your hands until they are dry.
3. Write Down What You Did
Take notes about the care you provided, how the patient is doing, and any important information about the family or caregiver. Writing down what you did helps ensure the patient gets the best care.
Why It’s Important:
Communication: Your notes help the healthcare team understand the patient’s condition and decide if any changes are needed in their care.
Quality of Care: Detailed notes ensure the patient receives consistent and high-quality care.
Legal Requirement: Accurate documentation is required by law. If you don’t record what you did, it’s as if the care never happened.
How to Document:
Be Detailed: Write clearly about the care provided and any changes in the patient’s condition.
Include Quotes: If the patient or family member says something important, use quotation marks to note their exact words.
Additional Tips:
Double-Check: Before leaving, make sure the bed is in the correct position and locked, and confirm that all documentation is complete.
Consistency: Make these steps a routine part of your care process to ensure nothing is missed.
Creating and using benchmarks to compare your company’s hiring demographics against those used by government agencies like the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) is crucial. Benchmarking helps ensure that your company’s hiring practices are fair and compliant with federal regulations. Here’s are some considerations to keep in mind when you consider the right benchmarks
Why Benchmarking Matters
Government agencies monitor and require companies to report on the demographic composition of their workforce, especially larger companies. For instance, the EEOC uses benchmarks to compare a company’s demographics against broader population data from sources like the U.S. Census and the American Community Survey. Knowing how your company’s demographics stack up against these benchmarks is essential for several reasons:
Diversity Goals: Meeting your company’s diversity and inclusion goals.
Fair Hiring Practices: Ensuring fair and unbiased hiring practices.
Best Practices for Benchmarking
Collect Internal Data: Gather detailed demographic data of your current workforce and applicants.
Ensure you track data on race, gender, age, and other relevant demographics.
Choose the Right External Data: Depending on your hiring scope, use national, regional, or local data. For example, if you recruit nationwide, use national benchmarks. For local hires, consider regional data.
Occupation and Industry-Specific Data: Align your benchmarks with the specific occupations and industries relevant to your company. Different industries and roles may have distinct demographic compositions.
Adjust for Educational Requirements: Consider the educational requirements for the roles you are hiring. This will help you compare your applicant pool against the qualified population.
Use Census Data: The U.S. Census Bureau provides comprehensive data that can be segmented by occupation, geography, and other factors. This data is a good starting point for creating your benchmarks.
Ensuring Fair Selection
To avoid over- or under-selecting any protected group, follow these steps:
Regularly Update Benchmarks: Demographic data changes over time. Ensure your benchmarks are based on the most recent data.
Monitor Hiring Practices: Continuously monitor your hiring practices and outcomes against your benchmarks.
Training and Awareness: Educate hiring managers on the importance of diversity and compliance with hiring practices.
External Data Sources
Looking at external data sources is important because it provides a broader context for your internal data. It helps you understand the labor market and demographic trends in your industry and location. External benchmarks serve as a snapshot of the current workforce composition, which can change over time.
Creating effective benchmarks involves a blend of using accurate external data and understanding your company’s unique needs. By comparing your company’s demographics against reliable benchmarks, you can ensure fair and compliant hiring practices. Regularly updating these benchmarks and educating your hiring team on best practices will help maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Where Can You Find Additional Information?
Of Significance: Don’t Miss the Mark! Podcast on what to keep in mind when creating benchmarks
Harvard Business Review: Smart benchmarking starts with knowing whom to compare yourself to
The podcasts cover a wide range of interesting and timely topics such as leadership, workplace violence, revenue capture, AI, use of technology, and how to best work with healthcare consultants.
Plan to listen while you are driving to patient visits!
Check back often to see what new podcasts have been released.
