Qualities to Look For in a Healthcare Professional
Working in healthcare takes a special breed. This line of work, especially the roles on the front lines of health care and emergency medicine, are not for everyone. That being said, finding the right person to fill a healthcare position can be tricky unless you know exactly what you’re looking for.
We’ve put together a shortlist of qualities we think a healthcare professional needs to have in order to succeed in this field.
Passion for Medicine
They say that passion is key to any profession. However, this goes a step further with medicine. Practicing medicine takes a real toll on one’s mind, body, and overall health. The stress of running 12-hour shifts on very little sleep, constantly exhausted, with patients coming in and out of your care isn’t just easier if you’re passionate. That’s the only way you’ll get through the day.
The burnout rate for most medical fields is between 40% to 50%. That is massive. In other words, the job gets 3x harder without drive and passion.
Problem-Solving Skills
Working in healthcare requires quick thinking and being able to solve problems on your feet. Problem-solving skills can be learned, but you’ll definitely want someone who has mastered said skills by the time they’ve reached your organization.
That being said, the problem-solving requirement doesn’t only extend to figuring out how to deal with various diagnoses. There are so many different, unexpected situations that healthcare workers have to deal with on a daily basis.
Sorted out Paperwork
Looking for suitable employees in the healthcare field is a process that also has an administrative side to it. In other words, you’ll want to find professionals with all the necessary certifications, such as the HIPAA certification or the NCLEX licensure, which is usually the most important. Click here to learn more about how to apply for the NCLEX. Naturally, you’ll want to check their medical licenses as well. You’d think that forged credentials would be all but extinct in this day and age, but that’s not the case. It pays to be diligent.
Compassion
People get desensitized to whatever it is they’re working with. Law enforcement personnel is desensitized to violence. In fact, it’s a part of their training. Healthcare professionals often get desensitized as well, although that’s not always a good thing.
When you have a massive turnaround of patients, it’s sometimes easy to forget that behind each of those names and faces is an actual person with feelings, hopes, and fears.
Showing compassion is a must in this profession. However, it’s also true that healthcare workers can’t possibly internalize everything bad that happens at work. There has to be some sort of balance.
People Skills
People skills and compassion shouldn’t be confused, even though they are often required at the same time. In essence, people skills represent one’s ability to handle not only patients but also their families. By knowing how to work with people, you can get a better idea of what’s troubling them. It’s all about being able to make a more accurate diagnosis and make it faster on average.
Consistency
Healthcare is a fairly unique industry with its own set of rules. However, being consistent and showing up at work is one of those basic qualities that really stand out. You’re probably wondering why we’re even mentioning this, but there’s a good reason.
Working hours in the healthcare industry are often fluid. No one can predict how long the shifts will last, especially if you’re at the front lines. Needless to say, one’s batteries will run out at some point. When they do, it’s the discipline and consistency that allows that person to punch their card every day. It’s extremely easy to undermine how much of an impact this line of work has on healthcare professionals.
Team Players
Last but not least, the person you hire should be a team player. There is rarely a healthcare industry position, aside from higher management roles, where lone wolves are appreciated. More often than not, it’s a team effort that counts. Finding people who are team players is a must when you’re building a framework for a new healthcare organization.
Take Your Time
Hiring is a difficult process that takes time, patience, and a lot of energy. The key thing to remember is that the right person will come along. If you’re in a bind and need to quickly put together a team, you’ll need to run with 70% solutions and a solid gut feeling.
The job market for the healthcare industry is always diverse, plentiful, and saturated with quality professionals. That being said, word of mouth goes a long way so don’t forget to network with your peers. Who knows, you might find the perfect candidate when you least expect it.
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