Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PDF Etiquette Communication Strategies For Nurses Advancement Techniques For Your Career Third Edition Kathleen Deska Pagana Ebook Full Chapter
PDF Etiquette Communication Strategies For Nurses Advancement Techniques For Your Career Third Edition Kathleen Deska Pagana Ebook Full Chapter
https://textbookfull.com/product/mosbys-diagnostic-and-
laboratory-test-reference-kathleen-pagana/
https://textbookfull.com/product/communication-essentials-for-
financial-planners-strategies-and-techniques-1st-edition-john-e-
grable/
https://textbookfull.com/product/interpersonal-relationships-
professional-communication-skills-for-nurses-7th-edition-
elizabeth-arnold/
https://textbookfull.com/product/targeted-therapies-in-lung-
cancer-management-strategies-for-nurses-and-practitioners-
marianne-davies/
Strategies for Inclusion Physical Education for
Everyone Third Edition Houston-Wilson
https://textbookfull.com/product/strategies-for-inclusion-
physical-education-for-everyone-third-edition-houston-wilson/
https://textbookfull.com/product/information-and-communication-
technology-for-competitive-strategies-proceedings-of-third-
international-conference-on-ictcs-2017-simon-fong/
https://textbookfull.com/product/project-planning-and-management-
a-guide-for-nurses-and-interprofessional-teams-third-edition-
edition-dearman/
https://textbookfull.com/product/uptime-strategies-for-
excellence-in-maintenance-management-third-edition-campbell/
https://textbookfull.com/product/solution-techniques-for-
elementary-partial-differential-equations-third-edition-
constanda/
Praise for Etiquette & Communication Strategies
for Nurses, Third Edition
“Kathy Pagana has done it again! This well-written, easy-to-use, comprehensive discussion
of social and professional etiquette is a must-read for all aspiring and experienced nurses.
Whether you are a new graduate interviewing for your first nursing position or a seasoned
nurse with years of experience, Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses,
Third Edition, is your complete guide to setting a positive, professional tone; building collegial
relationships; and optimizing your nursing career. Pithy quotes, helpful FAQs, and essential
take-away tips add valuable insights and texture to Pagana’s fluid, skillful, and understand-
able writing style. Get ready for a fun, readable, professional etiquette experience!”
–Cynthia Clark, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN
Strategic Nursing Advisor, ATI Nursing Education
Author, Creating and Sustaining Civility in Nursing Education
“Navigating the professional pitfalls that we all find ourselves in can be challenging. Kathy
Pagana has made figuring out the nuances of meeting, greeting, connecting, and form-
ing lasting collegial relationships a breeze. This book is filled with read-it and use-it tools.
Whether you are new to your career or a seasoned veteran, you’ll learn something that will
pave the way for future success.”
–Vicki Hess, RN
Author, Top 5 Healthcare Speaker, Virtual Coach
Principal, Employee Engagement Solutions, LLC
“Etiquette isn’t just a nicety; it’s essential for a successful nursing career. Keep Etiquette &
Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition, nearby as you steer your career. Its
streamlined format allows you to easily dip into it again and again to find answers on how to
handle professional situations. Whether it’s navigating social media, networking effectively,
dining out without embarrassing yourself, or becoming a more effective presenter and writer,
Kathy Pagana’s practical insights make this book an indispensable resource for nurses in all
specialties and practice settings.”
–Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
President, CLS Development Inc.
Editor, Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses, Third Edition
“If you have questions about etiquette, chances are that Kathleen Pagana has the answer.
Her etiquette book is a comprehensive guide for any nurse wanting to appear polished and
professional. Illustrated with stories, key tips, and recommendations, it will prevent you from
embarrassing yourself. The organization of the material makes it easy to dip into the topics of
most interest. You’ll want this guide to help you put your best foot forward.”
–Pat Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC
Author, 52 Writing Tips: Fast and Easy Ways to Polish Your Writing
“Kathy Pagana’s book Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edi-
tion, is an invaluable resource for nurses at any point in their career. Whether one is a new
nursing graduate learning to navigate the professional setting, an experienced nurse looking
to grow in new ways, or a nursing executive, Pagana provides the reader with tools to thrive
in any professional setting.”
–Rebecca FitzSimons, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Director of Nursing Programs, UChicago Medicine
“Kathleen Pagana takes a fun look at the skills necessary to manage various professional situ-
ations with poise, grace, and common sense. She discusses situations that, if managed appro-
priately, can make a difference in your career. Definitely a book for aspiring, newly promoted,
or experienced nursing leaders.”
–Tami Taylor, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center
ETIQUETTE &
COMMUNICATION
STRATEGIES for Nurses
ADVANCEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR YOUR CAREER
THIRD EDITION
________________________________________________________________
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
________________________________________________________________
She is the author of more than 95 articles and 29 books. Her business etiquette
articles have appeared in more than 15 different national publications. Her most
popular books, Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference (14th ed.) and Mosby’s
Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests (6th ed.), have sold almost 2 million copies,
with translations in Chinese, French, Greek, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, and
Spanish.
In her positions as patient care manager, military officer, faculty chair, academic
dean, and director on the board of a healthcare system, professional etiquette has
helped her handle a number of business challenges. She has enjoyed the privilege
of helping thousands feel more comfortable in professional and business situations
where they are in the spotlight and need to look and act their best.
Table of Contents
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
5 Interviewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Preparing for the Interview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Professionalism During the Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
After-Interview Professionalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Phone Interviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Foreword
Have we met? Even if we have, I probably forgot your name almost instantaneous-
ly after having heard it. I’m shy and that makes me nervous. I missed your name
because I was thinking about what we might have in common to talk about next.
If this is a cocktail reception, I have the added stress of knowing that I must talk to
many more people yet tonight. I will not remember their names either.
Yet, as I watch nursing students who have participated in the professional develop-
ment program walk with confidence to a potential contact, shake hands, and begin
to talk about themselves and what they want in their career, I see the results that
knowledge and skill related to professional etiquette yields.
xiv Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition
I got to know Kathy when I invited her to present on the topic of dining etiquette.
She guided the students through a deliberately challenging three-course meal,
sharing insights on etiquette as well as conversation tips. This is now the most
popular portion of the professional development curriculum. Students can apply
this knowledge to personal and professional settings. Students report how they have
used dining etiquette when meeting their romantic partner’s parents over dinner.
They are applying these skills during dinners where nursing recruiters try to woo
them to their health system. Did I mention that nursing recruiters are actively and
aggressively recruiting these students? Kathy and I have discussed that the reason
may be that professional etiquette has given these students the polish that sets them
apart from the crowd.
You, too, can employ professional etiquette to obtain a position, keep it, or to
advance. Kathy’s content is engaging and easy to read. The question and answer
format with tip boxes, charts, faux pas, and good idea sections allows you to read
quickly but provides a focused and thorough coverage of each topic. It is what you
need to know without a lot of fluff. Her approach is fun and informative. Kathy’s
guidance on presenting, leading meetings, writing an article, and successfully nav-
igating cultural differences will assist you in developing or refining new skills. You
may even develop the confidence to venture into new roles, network with others, or
connect through social media outlets.
If you have picked up this book, you either recognize or are starting to recognize
the importance of professional etiquette in your nursing career. Whether you have
made a serious gaffe that has illustrated the importance of etiquette or simply wish
to learn more, reading this book is an important step in your path to both personal
and professional future success. Thanks to Kathy’s book, if we meet at a cocktail
reception in the future, we will both be a little better at remembering each other’s
names, and if we do forget, we will know how to handle it!
This book describes how to get a job, keep a job, and move ahead in a job. It will
prepare you to handle awkward and challenging situations that could diminish
your confidence, tarnish your reputation, and derail your career aspirations. After
reading this fun and enjoyable book, you will be able to interact more effectively
in clinical, business, and social settings. You will be amazed at how often you will
think, “I didn’t know how much I needed to know.”
The premise of this book is that everyone can become an expert in etiquette. Fur-
ther, the better you become at it, the more you will be sought after for opportuni-
ties and positions. In these pages, you will find a reality check for those playing (or
about to play) the toughest sport of all—survival in a business world that is often
unforgiving and highly critical.
By using the guiding principles of kindness, consideration, and common sense, pro-
fessional etiquette can help you initiate new relationships and enhance established
relationships. It can guide you in unfamiliar situations and help you know what to
expect from others. For example, this book can help you in the following situations:
There are no other etiquette books targeted at and customized for nurses. This
book contains key business etiquette content with an application to professional
nursing. It will help you level the playing field in your interactions with others.
Key Features
Each chapter challenges the reader with a series of DO YOU: questions.
DO YOU:
• Know what to do when you meet a colleague whose name you have
forgotten?
• Know how to introduce your spouse to your boss?
• Have trouble remembering names?
• Have a prepared and practiced elevator pitch?
• Know what to do if a client ignores your attempt to shake hands?
• Wonder when it is appropriate to give out your business card?
Introduction xvii
Good Idea!
Faux Pas and Good Idea! boxes provide stories about
embarrassing and positive actions, respectively.
Faux Pas
TAKE-AWAY TIPS
• Make an effort to remember names when meeting people.
Finally . . .
“I never knew etiquette could be so much fun” is the most common response of
people attending my professional etiquette presentations. The goal of this book is
for you to learn (or recall) some career-enhancing material and to have fun at the
same time.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reading this book. As an exam-
ple, Tom Corley (2016) did research on 177 average people who became self-made
millionaires. Five key strategies that helped people get ahead are part of this book.
The skills you learn can be put into practice immediately for career advancement
and lifelong value.
1
MAKING YOUR ACQUAINTANCE
Handling Introductions
DO YOU:
• Know what to do when you meet a colleague whose name you have
forgotten?
These are concerns that can add to the stress of any situation where you are meet-
ing and greeting new people. Who hasn’t felt awkward during an introduction?
You will feel and act more confident if you understand the basic guidelines, and
you can improve your interactions with others by practicing these tips for making
introductions and creating a positive first impression.
2 Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition
Introductions
Does it really matter who is introduced to whom in
an introduction?
Yes, it does. There is a pecking order to introductions. The person of honor is
mentioned first, and then the other person is introduced. The person of honor is the
higher-ranking person in the organization. For example, suppose a new graduate is
being introduced to the vice president of nursing at a hospital. The vice president of
nursing is mentioned first, and then the new nurse is presented or introduced.
2. Say the name of and mention something about the person being introduced.
Sometimes, when you introduce two people, you will want to facilitate a conversa-
tion between them. Here is a way to facilitate conversation after an introduction,
using the preceding example:
If you are not sure about the pecking order when making introductions, Table 1.1
can help.
Elevator Pitch
What is an elevator pitch?
An elevator pitch is a short speech that sells an idea, markets an individual, or pro-
motes a business. The term is a metaphor for when you gain unexpected access to
someone to whom you would like to sell an idea or proposal. Essentially, you should
be able to explain a business proposal in an elevator in the time it takes to ride a few
floors. A great elevator pitch describes and sells an idea in less than a minute. Of
course, it is not restricted to elevators.
• Make a request. For example, do you want to schedule a meeting? If so, ask.
The person may be able to give advice on whom to email for further informa-
tion or whom to contact to set up a meeting.
• Practice. Rehearse so that when the opportunity arises, you are ready.
Shaking Hands
Am I judged by the quality of my handshake?
Yes, you are. You want to present a confident, firm handshake. Those few seconds
you shake hands can weaken or empower a relationship.
6 Etiquette & Communication Strategies for Nurses, Third Edition
The handshake is part of creating a first impression and sending a parting message.
Follow these three steps for a proper handshake:
1. Extend your right hand horizontally with your thumb up. Do not cup your
hand.
2. Engage a person’s hand web-to-web with a firm grip. The web between
your thumb and index finger should be touching the other person’s thumb
web.
Do Don’t
Stand up. Remain seated.
Make eye contact. Shake with limp, damp fingers.
Offer a firm grip. Squeeze the other person’s hand too tightly.
Smile. Turn the person’s hand over.
Be considerate of personal Refuse or forget to shake hands.
space issues.
Coming from someone you have just met, the two-handed handshake should alert
you to the possibility of a controlling or manipulative person. However, this may
be perfectly acceptable for friendly, long-term colleagues. Table 1.3 lists handshake
variations and their possible interpretations.
The Tool will Pick Up a Drop of Oil and Deposit It Where Wanted
The oiling tool is dipped in light oil and a drop applied to each
bearing. Replace the works in the case and the job is finished. A
reliable jeweler will charge very little for this work, but the more crafty
ones may ask a good price for this “mysterious” process. If the works
are not dirty, apply the oil with the tool. Anyone who has tried to oil a
clock with an ordinary spout oilcan knows the futility of the attempt.
The object of the tool is to pick up and carry a drop of oil and deposit
it where wanted. A can, a feather, or a match will do, but any one of
them is apt to carry dirt, flood the dry part, or smear up nonmoving
parts.
Easily Constructed Wall Shelves
Shelves for Books Supported with Picture-Frame Wire to the Wall
All that is necessary to make and support the simple set of wall
shelves, shown in the illustration, is lumber for the shelves, four
screw eyes, four screw hooks, sufficient picture-frame wire to form
the braces and supports, and wood screws for attaching the wire. On
the top side of the upper shelf are fastened the four screw eyes, two
near the wall edge and the others near the outer edge. To support
the upper shelf four screw hooks are used; two placed in the wall
and spaced to match the set of screw eyes nearest the wall, the
others being placed above the first and connected to the outer set of
screw eyes with the wire, thereby forming strong inclined supports.
The remaining shelves can be hung to suit by the supporting wires,
which are fastened with screws to the end of each shelf.
Showing the Strength of a Giant
This trick is not so well known as it might be, although for a while it
was quite a popular drawing attraction for circus side shows and
other amusement places. It is one of the favorite Hindu tricks. The
performer passes for examination two pieces of rope 10 ft. long. In
one end of each rope a large ring is fastened. Taking a ring in each
hand the performer commands three or four men at each end of the
rope to take hold of it and at a signal they pull as hard as possible.
They pull until they are exhausted as in a tug of war, but the
performer only appears a trifle exerted and finds no difficulty in
holding the men.
The Performer Seems to Hold the Ones Pulling on the Ropes without Any
Effort, Producing an Effect That cannot be Readily Understood, and Making
an Excellent Trick for the Lawn Party
Toouter
enjoy a vacation in the woods thoroughly, it is essential that the
be provided with the right kind of an outfit. The
inexperienced are likely to carry too much rather than too little to the
woods; to include many unnecessary luxuries and overlook the more
practical necessities. However, camp life does not mean that one
must be uncomfortable, but rather implies plain and simple living
close to nature. An adequate shelter from the sun and rain, a
comfortable bed, a good cooking kit, and plenty of wholesome food,
are the important things to consider. No man or woman requires
more, and if unwilling to share the plain fare of the woodsman, the
pampered ones should be left at home, for the grouchy, complaining
individual makes, of all persons, the very worst of camping
companions.
The Old Hand at the Camping Game Prefers
to Cut Poles on the Camping Site and Set
Them Up on the Outside for the Camp-Fire
Tent
There are tents and tents, but for average outings in what may be
considered a permanent camp, the regulation wall, or army, tent is
generally used to make a comfortable shelter. It is a splendid utility
tent, with generous floor space and plenty of headroom. For the
permanent camp, the wall tent is often provided with a fly, which may
be set up as an extra covering for the roof, or extended over the front
to make a kind of porch. An extension may also be purchased to
serve the same purpose. The 7 by 9-ft. wall tent will shelter two
persons comfortably, but when the camp is seldom moved, the 9 by
12-ft. size, with a 3¹⁄₂-ft. wall, will afford more room. The regulation 8-
oz. duck is heavy enough, or the same tent may be obtained in tan
or dark green khaki, if preferred. In any case the tent should have a
sod cloth, from 6 to 12 in. wide, extending around the bottom and
sewed to the tent. An extra piece of canvas or floor cloth is desirable,
but this as well as the fly are extras, and while convenient, are by no
means necessary. The wall tent may be erected with the regular
poles, or it may be ordered with tapes along the ridge and erected by
suspending between two trees. The old hand at the camping game
rarely uses the shop poles supplied with most tents, but prefers to
cut them at the camping site and rig them up on the outside, one
slender pole fastened with tapes along the ridge and supported at
either end in the crotch formed by setting up two poles, tripod or
shear-fashion.
The “Baker” style is a popular tent, giving a large sleeping
capacity, yet folding compactly. The 7 by 7-ft. size, with a 2-ft. wall,
makes a good comfortable home for two, and will shelter three, or
even four, if required. The entire front may be opened to the fire by
extending it to form an awning, or it may be thrown back over the
ridge to form an open-front lean-to shelter.
The “Dan Beard,” or camp-fire, tent is a modification of the Baker
style, having a slightly steeper pitch, with a smaller front opening.
The dimensions are practically the same as the Baker, and it may be
pitched by suspending between two trees, by outside poles, or the
regular poles may be used.
For traveling light by canoe or pack, a somewhat lighter and less
bulky form of tent than the above styles may be chosen, and the
woodsman is likely to select the forester’s or ranger types. The
ranger is a half tent with a 2-ft. wall and the entire front is open; in
fact, this is the same as the Baker tent without the flap. If desired,
two half ranger tents with tapes may be purchased and fastened
together to form an A, or wedge, tent. This makes a good tent for two
on a hike, as each man carries his own half, and is assured a good
shelter in case one becomes separated from his companion, and a
tight shelter when the two make camp together.
The forester’s tent is another good one, giving good floor space
and folding up very compactly, a 9 by 9-ft. tent weighing about 5¹⁄₂ lb.
when made of standard-weight fabric. It may be had either with or
without hood, and is quickly erected by using three small saplings,
one along the ridge, running from peak to ground, and one on each
side of the opening, to form a crotch to support the ridge pole, shear-
fashion. These tents are not provided with sod or floor cloths,
although these may be ordered as extras if wanted.
The canoe or “protean” tents are good styles for the camper who
travels light and is often on the move. The canoe tent has a circular
front, while the protean style is made with a square front, and the
wall is attached to the back and along the two sides. Both tents are
quickly set up, either with a single inside pole or with two poles set
shear-fashion on the outside. A 9 by 9-ft. canoe or protean tent with
a 3-ft. wall makes a comfortable home in the open.
Whatever style of tent is chosen, it is well to pay a fair price and
obtain a good quality of material and workmanship. The cheaper
tents are made of heavier material to render them waterproof, while
the better grades are fashioned from light-weight fabric of close
weave and treated with a waterproofing process. Many of the
cheaper tents will give fair service, but the workmanship is often
poor, the grommets are apt to pull out, and the seams rip after a little
hard use. All tents should be waterproofed, and each provided with a
bag in which to pack it. An ordinary tent may be waterproofed in the
following manner: Dissolve ¹⁄₂ lb. of ordinary powdered alum in 4 gal.
of hot rain water, and in a separate bucket dissolve ¹⁄₂ lb. of acetate
of lead—sugar of lead—in 4 gal. of hot rain water. The acetate of
lead is poisonous if taken internally. When thoroughly dissolved, let
the solution stand until clear, then pour the alum solution into a tub
and add the lead solution. Let the solution stand for an hour or two,
then pour off the clear water and thoroughly soak the fabric in the
waterproofing mixture by rubbing and working the material with the
hands. Hang the cloth up without wringing it out.
The Forester’s Tent is Quickly Erected by
Using Three Small Saplings, One along the
Ridge, and One on Each Side of the Opening
to Form a Crotch for the Ridge Pole
The Ranger’s or Hiker’s Tent Comes in The Canoe or Protean Tents
Halves. Each Half may be Used Are Good Styles for the
Independently as a Lean-To Shelter for One Camper Who Travels Light
Man, or Both Joined Together to Make Room and Is Often on the Move,
for Two Persons and They can be Quickly Set
Up with a Single Inside Pole
The camping kit, including the few handy articles needed in the
woods, as well as the bedding and cooking outfit, may be either
elaborate or simple, according to the personal experience and ideas
of the camper. In making up a list, it is a good plan to remember that
only comparatively few articles are really essential for a comfortable
vacation in the wilderness. A comfortable bed must be reckoned one
of the chief essentials, and one may choose the de-luxe couch—the
air mattress or sleeping pocket—use the ordinary sleeping bag, or
court slumber on one of the several other styles of camp beds. The
fold-over combination bed, the stretcher bed, or a common bag
made of ticking, 6¹⁄₂ ft. long by 2 ft. wide, which is stuffed with
browse or leaves, will suffice for the average person. Folding camp
cots, chairs, tables, and other so-called camp furniture, have their
places in the large, fixed camps, but the woodsman can manage to
live comfortably without them. A good pair of warm blankets should
be included for each person, providing the sleeping bag is not taken
along. The regulation army blankets are a good choice and
reasonable in price, or the blankets used at home may be pressed
into service.
A good ax is the woodsman’s everyday companion, and a good-
weight tool, weighing 3 or 4 lb., and a smaller one of 1¹⁄₂ lb. should
be carried. When going light, the belt ax will suffice.
The oil lantern is only suited for the fixed camp, since the fuel is
difficult to transport unless it is placed in screw-top cans. The
“Stonbridge” and other folding candle lanterns are the most
convenient for the woods and give sufficient light for camp life.
The aluminum cooking outfits are light in weight, nest compactly,
and will stand many years of hard usage, but like other good things,
they are somewhat expensive. A good substitute, at half the price,
may be obtained in tin and steel, having the good feature of nesting
within each other, but, of course, not being quite so light nor so
attractive in appearance as the higher-priced outfits. Both the
aluminum and steel outfits are put up in canvas carrying bags, and
an outfit for two includes a large and a small cooking pot coffee pot;
frying pan with folding or detachable handle; two plates; cups knives;
forks, and spoons. Outfits may be bought for any number of persons
and almost all sporting-goods stores carry them. The two-man outfit
in heavy aluminum will cost $9 or $10, while the same outfit
duplicated in steel is priced at $3.35.