Highlighting Occupational Therapists in April
Virtual Reality has been a trend for events for around a decade now, and it has an opportunity to break out in the medical industry. Healthcare leaders think that VR could be used for surgical trending. Justin Vara of Osso VR spoke at SXSW, and his organization won the Innovation Award for VR, AR, and MR. He made a fascinating and thorough case that VR can help with surgical training. They secured additional funding last week so, this startup will only grow.
To maintain current trends, surgeons should discover and rehearse the latest innovations. Healthcare embraces technology for medical advancement. VR is not just for entertainment but for helping people. What is the best way to solve this problem? These are some of the paraphrased points Vara touched upon during his talk at the conference:
How Are Healthcare Workers Trained
How does the healthcare industry train medical professionals in learning surgical techniques? The current training model is basically “watch it once and do it again.” The origins of surgical training were fascinating. It was done with one-on-one apprenticeships, which would follow an expert for at least a year or even a few years to learn what to do. There was a hierarchy from simple to complex procedures that surgeons could work on. Various levels of surgery had more responsibility and would manage below them.
What Are the Issues with Training?
There is too much to know, and every potential scenario is considered. Recent surgery is overly complex with robots and minimally invasive surgery; navigation and a patient-first determination can be more challenging to learn. Typically, a surgical student will have to operate on between a dozen to two dozen patients to hit the threshold to be competent to complete a successful surgery. Robotics can have a learning curve of up to 100 cases!
How does healthcare measure technical training? Not as well as other professions. Pilots get retrained every six months and learn how to land a plane if an engine goes out. Another issue is that different people do different tasks, and it is hard to keep up. UCLA discovered that, on average, one surgeon worked with 25 Surg Techs and 51 anesthesiologists in a month. Also, 30% of medical graduates could not perform without supervision, so there is a learning curve even when on-the-job training is not the best.
What Does the Data Show Using VR?
With VR (Virtual Reality) for surgical training, you can train in-person and remotely. Multiple studies from various institutions show.
UCLA study 10 trained in person and ten on virtual Reality. Healthcare is about people making judgment calls. Their evaluation system, called OSATs, found VR-trained students scored 10 points better than in person.
University of Illinois - Chicago published in Core. Monitored students to see who needed training. Traditional training was 25% completed, but students who trained with VR had a 78% success rate!
Wake Forest students found that 100% of the residents recommended VR training. They also did a motion tracker study on surgeons performing surgery and then training in VR. The conclusion in the data was almost the same in both models.
How Do You Use It?
This form of collective training unites people at various locations. Surgery can be amusing for the right personalities, and the training should be too to improve concentration and create memorable positive experiences. They are making the technology about accessibility and the needed soft skills training. What kind of troubleshooting should be done? Students can recall what steps must be taken, especially when efficiency and time are required.
Various generations adapt to VR technology, but there is a distinction between 30 seconds of picking up and adapting to the tech. Construct validity was mentioned and should put naysayers at ease. People learn how to perform surgery on the program if they know how to perform surgery.
A critical point mentioned was that VR is designed to make surgery work better and not to be a supplement for in-person instruction. With medical advancements in medicine, healthcare institutions should consider the future and the work organizations like Osso VR are doing.
Since 1988, WSi has recruited healthcare institutions and discovered trends to remain up to date in the medical industry. We do this to help you staff the best candidates for your organization. Talk to a recruiter today.
The South by Southwest (SXSW) conference had its first in-person/hybrid event since the pandemic began. The Healthcare industry covered engaging and illuminating topics and panel discussions, everything from experimental Psychedelics to what "post-pandemic world." We wanted to focus on more detailed aspects that reflect trends relatable to us. Their series about "the healthcare road ahead" focused on the future of healthcare and what could come next. Here are the following topics that caught our attention while attending the globally recognized conference:
What the "She-cession" Will Teach Us About Hiring
An excellent discussion moderated by the CMO of Indeed. The Covid recession has impacted women, which has affected healthcare and recruiting. The fallout continues as the recovery accelerates as people leaving the workforce are women and women of color even more. The presentation during this panel presented some facts:
70% of women left a role because of a lack of support, flexible work, childcare, and healthcare support.
89% of women say their partner was not as impacted as they were.
Women want to be paid more, be happy, have a meaning of belonging, work environment flexibility, and sympathetic managers.
The panelists discuss what various organizations have done, including scheduling meetings at better times and being deliberate about keeping the parents navigating online learning—doing away with being on camera to monitor productivity. Related to healthcare, one panelist discussed the healthcare industry's challenges and how they overcame those issues. There is a tool one place used that serves job position recommendations to people based on their personality, which increased hiring women. A piece of advice was to ask questions about people being allowed to be their authentic selves at work since they spend so much time there.
Beyond the pandemic, the issue needs to be resolved to improve the retention of women as leaders, CEOs, corporate, non-profit boards, and this gap will be closed. The major takeaway was it is not up to women alone to fix these issues, but organizations as a collective should, too.
Hospital Data Transparency During Covid
This talk might have been the most fascinating of everything we attended. The pipeline between collecting data, parsing it, and releasing it to journalists was an intricate journey. They reflected on the pandemic's beginning. Remember the ventilator crisis? People needed to know how many hospitals did not have data on those and bed counts. States with natural disasters were more likely to have a system like this. They had to organize the detailed information in a daunting task once information was submitted to HHS.
Most governments at every level needed more organized hospital reporting and comprehensive data like staffing shortages, temporary beds, PPE supplies, etc. Allocating Remdesivir early in the pandemic would be based on people who recently got Covid and not people who had it for a while. Knowing real-time needs would increase or decrease shipping overall saved lives. The streamlined data elements automated it to change the response quickly and took a load off hospitals. Rural hospitals that only had a few cases could face privacy issues.
They discussed the challenge of releasing data too quickly without confirming but too late for it not to be valuable and out of date. The COVID Tracking Project dashboard featured 70 volunteers taking data at the county level to create a national database for public knowledge. With this information, journalists would be able to inform the public about spikes at the state and local level and combat misinformation.
The collection and releasing of information shouldn't end post-pandemic. It is vital to keep data active if there is another medical crisis, and it is better to be safe than sorry, as an ill-prepared system has reminded us. It benefits the public. With a system like this, people can track influenza data to be more prepared for flu seasons.
The next crisis this panel worries about is retaining burned-out staff from a discouraging situation. For burnout, medical professionals need to document their thoughts and know if the system will not collapse of transparency with good journalism can take on misinformation. Most of it moved from HHS to CDC and HealthData.gov. One encouraging form of accountability was reporters comparing different data sources to find discrepancies, which would build trust for transparency.
In conclusion, the panel suggested this brought several kinds of organizations together in health, policy, technology experts, emergency, and operations and provided needed information for the public. All in all, "demand your data" was a big takeaway.
Equity: Mindset for Patients and Racial Disparities
Patient equity is a complex and complicated topic in the healthcare industry. Building trust is the crucial first step for healthcare providers. One panel discussed making clinical trials more equitable to reflect accurately diverse communities. Being data-driven, they suggested making the information meaningful to all patients from effectiveness, adverse effects and needed access. Clinical trials initially consisted of only white men neglecting other people based on gender and race. Expanding the patient field helps healthcare workers provide culturally competent care and inherent biases in healthcare in treating diverse patients.
Another point made was how to make people healthy in a non-medical way. Therapy beyond medicine and treatment is relevant to patients—partner with community leaders to bring awareness. Social determinacies drive health, and taking on that will lead to equity, both quality of life and length of life. Meet people where they are so they can give the information they need—asking questions about their home, dietary issues, sleeping, or access to transportation, elevated blood sugar. Reach out and educate the Black community about barriers and challenges: food stress trauma and access to insurance. A recent example of this was connecting with institutions in the Black community to help discuss Covid vaccines.
Medical providers can think about solutions and how to make them sustainable for the community long term. Three key takeaways were bridging the gap for doctors, building trust with patients, and creating solutions catered to the patients. Make sure your team members reflect diversity for intersectionality since people trust others who look the most like them. Ask if the work you do builds bias. Removing colonizing mindset, addressing healthcare deserts with innovative capturing of data, and confronting medical misinformation all close the equity gap. Remember to prioritize healthcare structures in big and small things to continue the advancements.
How Social Media Can Combat Health Issues
Social media can be a vital tool in how people can improve healthcare and increase awareness of the public. Medical students are highlighting the ways that health care perpetuates disparities. Social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter have become critical for medical professionals to enlighten the public about ongoing discrepancies. They are fighting against medical prejudice and the unique ways that the recent generation of increasing medical professionals oppose systemic differences in medicine.
Medical equations, for example, that measure kidney function take race into account, making it more difficult for Black individuals to receive kidney transplants. Likewise, early-set Lyme disease rashes look different on darker skin than lighter skin. Black patients tend to get a later diagnosis for this reason. Students didn't learn to recognize this condition. Pulse oximeters had trouble measuring the breathing of specific patients.
Gamers and influencers have used social media to be an example to followers and form habits that became routines. A gym stream session on Twitch forms a supportive community to ask questions and remove the stigma or embarrassment of working out in a public gym. Sustain mental harmony by playing games and connecting with their community. Likewise, always take the time to reset the moment to take time to unplug, especially before bed.
HealthTech: AI Diagnosing Alzheimer's, MedTech, and VR Heart Health
The SXSW conference likes to focus on the future and current trends. What could come next? As the global incidence of autoimmune diseases increases, VR (virtual reality) technology delivers innovative approaches to enhance assessments and deploy refined therapeutic resolutions relevant to our aging population. Medical breakthroughs could occur with virtual reality advancements. Current neuroscience research with breakthrough Virtual Reality technology will affect medicine, clinical care, and personal health and wellness. These inventions will be crucial to enhancing brain soundness and promoting senior care.
For new devices, MedTech investors look at upcoming products and emerging technologies. If it works and proves it to customers and regulators, can they build it and protect it? Can you get it paid? Will it be profitable? Prove that the product can save money and increase efficiency? Successful companies focus on technologies that they know. They reach out to physicians to see if they would use the potential new product. Allow clinical trial companies to monitor on their own to save money during this process, so funding does not run out. Open the medical records and supporting de-centralized trials can cut costs, too.
Scientists are on the verge of massive breakthroughs in medicine that would create a new paradigm for healthcare, potentially curing even the most challenging diseases by concentrating on our bodies, genes, and cells. For Alzheimer's Disease and other brain diseases, speech biomarkers are the near future of improved patient outcomes. Pioneering speech-based examinations for neurological & psychiatric disorders, creating authorized biomarkers to catch manifestation via natural language processing and AI. The technology revolutionizes unknown conditions from a clinical trial for Alzheimer's Disease to identifying detailed speech shifts in people. This future could be here before you know it.
Since 1988, WSi has been recruiting medical professionals and following emerging trends to stay up to date in the health care industry. We do this to make sure we can find the best candidates for your organization. If you are looking for your next role, speak to a recruiter today.
Where do you start if you want to work out? Take that first step. When I moved to a more rural community than an urban one in high school, I decided to go on long walks and listen to the radio on a Walkman. When a song I loved pumped me up, I would run through the duration of it. I did this with a few songs and formed a habit. By my senior year of high school, I made strides running cross country. I make sure to jog or walk daily. This is my story about how I became a runner, and it was one decision I made and formed habits over time. Here is how you can start exercising.
Set Reasonable Goals
Start gradually and accelerate slowly with all that you do. Allocate yourself an abundance of time to warm up and cool down with leisurely walking or delicate stretching. Find the best time for you; even just 30 minutes a day is fine. A sensible goal of losing weight is at a pace of one or two pounds a week. Create a habit of drinking more water because you will need it. For me, I started slowly and worked my way up.
Maintain Consistency
Persistence is key. Find an exercise routine and what works for you. Work in the busy day tips and walk with co-workers. Try a different exercise routine every few weeks. You will want to track your goals to stay motivated and think of the bigger picture. If you lose inspiration, set additional goals, or attempt a new workout. Taking a class at the gym and even going with a friend could help, too. For me, every time the song came on, I would run. I picked a few other songs.
Accept Being Uncomfortable
Forming new habits, especially healthy ones, are accessible but challenging. If you switch from taking the stairs instead of the elevator, that can be an adjustment. Walk or ride a bike rather than drive whenever you can. Sore muscles and fatigue will be common symptoms. This feeling is expected, and people will have to comply with it. Know your body. I accepted the fact that sometimes this would hurt.
But Know When to Take a Break
You will figure out how your body responds to different situations. Slow down and take a breather if you feel soreness, shorter breath, dizziness, or nausea. You may be forcing yourself too much. Overreaching can happen when your activity becomes extreme for what your body is used to, and performance drags consequently. Respond to your body's clues and know when to slow down. For me, I would slow down and walk when I got side cramps.
Have Accountability
Sharing your goals and being honest with others is the way to go. Make a friend, significant other, or co-worker your accountability companion and encourage each other by swapping healthy food tips, shipping motivational quotes, and checking in to see how each other feels or maintains their goals. Someone who can help you achieve your goals makes them easier to accomplish. For me, I told people about this habit, and they would ask me how I was holding up.
At WSi, we value working out in the morning, after work, or even a few co-workers going on a walk together during our lunch hour. (Some even answer candidate and client phone calls while taking a stroll.)
The new critically acclaimed crowd-pleasing movie "Dog" now in theaters reminds people of the need for pets to maintain mental well-being. Starring and co-directed by Channing Tatum, it was inspired by the HBO documentary he produced called "War Dog: A Soldier's Best Friend." The main character (Channing Tatum) deals with PTSD as the dog maintains his sanity in the narrative drama. With this in mind, here are the multiple benefits of having a pet:
Increase Physical Activity
A new analysis finds dog owners, on average, walk 22 more minutes more per day than individuals without dogs. This could be below average for very playful pups. That is enough physical activity to make a difference in your health. Going on walks is an effective way to get your steps in. Walking a dog on a hike is an excellent reason to get out and experience nature. Playing fetch and participating in sports is another way to get your dog active.
Provide Companionship
Pets can sense our emotions and provide comfort when people need it. Dogs are a basis of companionship and reassurance for their owners. Emotional and social reinforcement is necessary to get through psychological problems such as grief. Pets can affect our emotional condition, understanding of protection and approval, and even our optimistic outlook on life.
Add Routine
Yes, it is more responsibility with more demand from your time, but it will be worth having a pet. That responsibility is a building bridge to take care of loved ones or starting a side business. Pet owners are tasked with many things. They will need to buy food, treats, a collar and leash, various toys, and grooming products. You will be reliable for meals, water, strolls, exercise, cleanup, and grooming.
More Social
People participate in social activities with dogs. You have a lot of options as a dog owner. However, the mundane dog walk can increase confidence as people compliment your dog or stop to talk with you. Sixty percent are more likely than those without pets to encounter new individuals in their neighborhoods. Dog owners who go on walks with their dogs were also more likely to have befriended someone they met via pet-related associations.
Lower Anxiety
Unless they get into trouble, sharing enjoyment with a furry companion causes numerous people to feel more relaxed, reducing blood pressure and easing the manifestation of mental health difficulties. Research has revealed that merely petting a dog decreases the stress hormone cortisol. In contrast, the social relations between people and their dogs improve the feel-good hormone oxytocin.
Slows Mental Decline
A recent study revealed that pet ownership slows mental deterioration in older adults. It had the best responses among Black pet parents, individuals with a college education, and men. Over the six years, cognitive scores declined gradually among pet owners, with the distinction most substantial among long-term pet owners.
WSi is a dog-friendly office, and we love our pets. We know that pet ownership makes us better people. One of our perks is "bring your dog into work" days.
With society going back to being more regular, mass gatherings will become more common to form a sense of normalcy. People took conferences for granted, but attending was helpful for professional and personal development. Conferences are utilized to bring people concurrently with a shared interest and examine issues and concepts associated with a specific topic or industry. Events are an effective way to advance your career, and there is something unique about gathering for one. Conferences are not just a bunch of lectures and boring presentations. They are full of inspiring speakers and thought-provoking seminars with storytelling and video montages. As we achieved normalcy and continued deep reflection, health care professionals should take advantage of attending conferences and or at least events for a variety of reasons:
Learn the Latest Industry Trends
Going to a medical conference is an opportunity to reflect on the challenging moments of your career, and healthcare workers have been through a lot in the previous two years. Attending a conference is a captivating way of keeping up to date with trends and what is next for the medical industry. You will not only understand what is happening in your industry by going to a meeting, but you can also actually conceive of new concepts and converse with fascinating thought leaders. Keynote speakers or panelists in breakout sessions go deep on select topics or hear about current research. Asking questions or proposing ideas with an expert on a panel is ideal for dialogue with an industry leader. Healthcare is rapidly evolving regardless of a pandemic, and professionals have a chance to learn about assorted topics, especially overlooked subjects, first.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
The value of experiences and making a human connection will be more substantial post-pandemic, and conferences are a way to partake in both. It has been a few years since most people attended significant events. This will be a suitable time to reassess life and more robust possibilities. Millennials are an enormous demographic in the workforce and statistically are more likely to want to travel than GenX. Individuals want to visit somewhere new, and it is an opportunity to break the redundancy of your work life while making it related to your career. Being in an unfamiliar situation can be challenging but learning something new or meeting new people is a rewarding experience. You are stretched as a person when you try something new.
Professional and Personal Development
Personalization of content is a recent conference trend that caters to people who go and not programmers or organizers who put on the event. Attendees want fluid schedules and agenda points with many possibilities to partake in or switch rooms to mix it up. Allowing people to select topics that inspire them creates more vibrancy and boosts engagement in the meeting space. Listening to detailed presentations by the experts in your field will make you view your profession from a different point of view and can change how you work. You can learn a lot when you listen to others. Healthcare professionals can choose what contemporary trends about the industry include such issues, including AI, patient equity, nursing techniques, and work-life balance, among others.
An Opportunity for Networking
Meeting people face-to-face is good for our mental health; they are also the most valuable spots to expand your professional network in your field. Ice breakers are a way to make meeting new people less awkward. Conference trade shows are a way to approach someone to see a product demo or talk about topics related to your industry and encourage curious minds. There are a lot of opportunities for health care professionals to discover what other people are doing. Creating a network of healthcare workers can be valuable to your career connection with other health specialists that you cannot typically do when working in a hectic unit. Sharing more profound ideas with other industry professionals will foster new thoughts, enable individuals, and advance professions.
Attending a conference is a way to learn contemporary trends, adopt new skills, meet people, and think of the endless possibilities of advancements in the health care industry. To find a health care conference more in your field, check out your options here. Since 1988, WSi has been attending conferences and adapting to the needs of medical staffing. We have been working alongside health care professionals changing lives one person at a time.
The Meaningful Motivations for Donating Blood
Valentine's Day is not the only February holiday that focuses on hearts. It is also Heart Health Month, and heart disease is the most common health issue that patients face. This is an ideal time to offer advice on how people can lower their risk of the various problems related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels steady and reduce their heart disease and heart attack danger.
Manage expectations
Identifying a medical problem from a doctor's visit or on your own is a major step. You cannot resolve these types of difficulties overnight or even for a week or two. Immediate change can be overwhelming, and people resist adapting to new habits all at once. Tracking improvement is crucial for your health—persevering to confront these issues. Celebrate successes and overcome drawbacks. Momentum is a secret way to succeed at your goals.
Eat Healthily
Living a nutritious lifestyle can help keep your heart health in check. Carbs are not bad. Choose whole-grain bread instead of refined. Plain Greek yogurt makes for a nutritional snack and eat it with natural fruit. Increase your protein intake and drink more water. Avoid fried foods. Skip diet foods tend to have more sugar. All of this will contribute to lowering weight and relaxing your blood pressure.
Lower Stress
Maintaining stress is a way to fight for your heart health. Anxiety can trigger dramatic but temporary increases in your blood pressure. Bodies react by unleashing stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) into the blood. These hormones condition the body for a heightened response by causing the heart to beat quickly and narrowing blood vessels to circulate more blood. Begin some relaxation techniques. Meditation, embracing guided imagery, and taking deep, rhythmic breathes.
Exercise
Many people do not spend a lot of time working out. Forming new habits, starting small, and building up to something matters. Both lightweight training and cardio can help you, and temporary soreness is better than the long-term problems of managing heart health issues—however, ten minutes of brisk or moderate walking a few times a day can help.
Increase Sleep
This is an important one and could be the most challenging. Unwinding at night could be difficult for many busy professionals or when a personal life can become burdensome. Lower your blue light (screen time) at night. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon. Taking a melatonin supplement can help you fall asleep. Find a routine schedule of going to sleep and waking up, which allows a natural sleep cycle.
Heart Health month is a fantastic opportunity to book doctors' visits and commence to make small but significant lifestyle modifications. Since 1988, WSi has been staffing health care professionals. Contact us if you are looking for your next position.
With new and evolving Covid variants with higher transmissibility than in the earlier pandemic stages, it feels like society is in a loop while trying to figure out different information. It is a lot to process.
With many things pivoting to virtual during the pandemic, telehealth is a trend that is not going away and can have a few benefits for patients and organizations. Before the pandemic, less than 2% of visits were remote. Today, it is close to 25%. With this tendency not going anywhere, here are some of the positives.
Convenience
People crave the flexibility of working remotely during the pandemic, and it is a habit that will remain in the long term. You want to meet people where they are at as an organization. They will be willing to try virtual health screens, too. People have lives they are juggling and need to manage. Avoiding a trip and spending less time on their appointment will appeal to many individuals. This could benefit rural patients who lack access to quality health care, too. Logging on and off is easy. Just be prepared ahead of time.
See More Patients
Organizations can benefit from seeing more people during the day. Even if it can be physically and psychologically draining, back-to-back meetings online can be more efficient. A practice will be able to work with others. No more waiting for a physical space to be available to see someone. This could enhance productivity in your office. Visiting more patients can help those in need.
Truly Beneficial
Some have expressed concerns that this is medically beneficial and not a way to cut corners. According to the American Medical Association, around 70% of a patient's medical issues do not demand an in-person doctor visit and can be monitored virtually. People worried about telehealth appointments should be reassured that they are effective even if the doctor and patient are not in the same room. With fewer people needing to visit the hospital physically, healthcare professionals could focus on their work in the office and have a team function remotely to see patients.
Technology Improves
As virtual care makes technological progress, health care providers can lean into technology more over time. One thing that can be managed online today is observing hypertension and diabetes. It is anticipated that people may have their temperature by looking into a camera! Technology will continue to advance, and healthcare providers will complete more tasks and provide more patient care online.
Has your organization considered the possibilities of a remote workforce? We have been hiring remote workers for many of our clients to meet this new demand. Since 1988, WSi has provided Colorado institutions with the best, most qualified staff. Speak to an account manager today.
With The Holidays behind us and the winter blues coming in full force this January, health care professionals should keep their mental health in check. And this should be done now more than ever with the uncertainty of a new Covid surge happening. Here is what you could do to make the winter months more manageable.
Get Vitamin D
Supplements can help, but nothing beats the old-fashioned sunshine. When you need a break, go outside if the sun is poking out. Relaxing with fresh air is helpful. Vitamin D handles a more normal immune system function, helping with the growth of bones and teeth and lowering the risk of MS, heart disease, and struggling with the flu. Vitamin D plays a vital role in balancing your mood and fighting depression.
Eating Better
January is when people feel the need to diet, and there is some pressure and a little shame to do that. Don't be strict about eating but be mindful of certain foods and make incremental changes. This is still essential in avoiding that dreaded "d" word. Increase fruit and vegetable intake. Limiting processed foods helps your attitude and allows your body to function correctly. Cut back on sugar and alcohol. An overall more balanced diet lowers depression.
Practice Mindfulness
Meditation, planned visualization, yoga/palettes, or reciting prayer lower stress and anxiety and decompress from the day. Prioritize deep heavy breaths and concentrate on one thing at a time. Try to center yourself on unwinding from the day.
Better Sleep
Sometimes you need extra rest to re-charge. Inadequate sleep can increase the chance of depression or exacerbate symptoms by lowering stress hormone levels and generating pessimistic thinking. Enhance your sleep by taking a bath or doing leisure exercises before bed. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and especially light-emitting screens before bedtime. Now is the time to get lost in a good book.
Arrange an Activity
People might need time alone to get back their energy. Others need other people or activities. Looking forward to an event with a good friend is a mood booster. Taking a walk outside could be safe during the Covid winter. Also, plan a spring break or extended weekend summer trip. Focusing on the future is a method to maintain existing sanity.
WSi recruiters are always here to process a heavy day or stressful circumstances with their placements. If you are a healthcare professional and are worried about your mental wellbeing, visit www.mhanational.org/frontline to locate needed assistance.
Job hunting can be exhausting and dehumanizing. You work so hard on your resume, applying for work, preparing for the interview, all for it to vanish when you receive the rejection email, or worse, suddenly: you are even ghosted after everything! A recent trending article shared on LinkedIn compared job hunting to online dating, bruising egos. As more people continue to interview during this transitional season, here is a way to keep your mental health in check while looking for a job:
Embrace Perseverance
Being persistent is the key to success with looking for your next role. You must keep going knowing that the best fit is waiting for you. Remind yourself of previous experiences when you needed to embrace persistence. It can be a motivator. You came out stronger in the end. Dopamine motivates people to work harder. However, balance a rhythm of work with a healthy mindset, but take a break with something you enjoy if you need to do so.
Keep It Positive
Most of the time, you cannot take the rejection personally. Easier said than done. If the experience was terrible, know that this doesn’t define your self-worth. Someone else was a better fit for the job, either skill or personality-wise. Mastering the ability to overcome obstacles allows you to work through challenges more manageable.
Reassess Your Goals
Double-check the jobs you applied for in the past. Were you the best fit? Reflect on the positions where you went farther in the interview process. How did it go? Could you have done something differently? You might not be a “square peg, square hole” fit for the jobs you interviewed for. People can learn lessons from those experiences. You could be on the wrong path and need to get back on track with what you want and your values. Goals can change, too.
Tap Into Your Network
Not only is relying on your network a fantastic opportunity to find your next job, but it is also even better to lean on close friends and family to vent and seek emotional support. Reaching out for advice both benefits you psychologically and professionally. This is a way to strategize a plan and know that people who care about you have your back. We need individuals rooting for us during the challenges of life.
Since 1988, WSi’s recruiters have been transparent and honest with candidates looking for other work opportunities. If you are interested in finding your following healthcare positions, get in touch with us today!
With wages increasing across many industries in 2021, negotiating a raise is a skill to master to advance your career. People should navigate the challenges asking for a raise. Keep these things in mind when considering how to approach a potentially sensitive subject of asking for a wage increase:
When do you ask for a raise?
You want to consider asking for a pay increase for the following reasons:
A new job
Your current role
Negotiating a promotion at work
Transitioning between careers
Life transitions happen, and a raise can help you navigate financial changes.
Reflect on your achievements
Process the end of the year and your contributions to the organization. Did you go beyond your job duties this year? Did you meet your goals? Have you even helped other team members achieve their goals or complete a big project that helped your employer? Know your worth and be confident and assertive but not arrogant.
Analyze medium salary data
Salaries are not always a “one size” fits all geographically. The cost of living varies by region, state, and local market. Wages should reflect this reality. Look into expected salary ranges for your industry and your market. You could be below salary, and an adjustment would be needed.
Anticipate a target range
After you parse the data and look over your job description:
Take a few things into consideration.
Figure out what would be fair for you and the employer.
Always be reasonable.
Anywhere between a 3–5% pay increase would be typical, but it could be higher depending on your circumstance or industry.
Consider the organization’s finances.
You may not want to do this if it is a down year. If this is the case, it might not be a time to ask for a raise. Although, if things seem healthy, there is nothing wrong with asking for a pay increase. Do not be emotional nor expect to present your current salary as a problem.
Consult your friends or family
It is always good to lean into your network and inner circle to figure out how to proceed. A trustworthy friend or family member can help you face challenges and give you needed advice. Try not to take negative feedback too personally.
Since 1988, WSi has been an expert in staffing healthcare professionals. If you want to find an ideal rate for your work, please get in touch with us today.
Your resume has caught the eye of a recruiter. That’s great news! They want to schedule an in-person, call, Skype or other type of initial interaction. You need to impress them, no question about it. They are the go-between for you and the hiring company.
How can you create an eye-catching physical therapy resume? Consider six keys that can take your resume to the top and help you get an interview.
How do you spot a bad candidate so they don’t become a bad hire? There are red flags you can watch for during the interview. Consider these eight clues before making an offer.
The healthcare industry will grow despite people leaving the profession due to burnout. Now is the opportunity for those who have considered a new and stable career in healthcare. The medical field needs workers and hiring trends will accelerate well after the Coronavirus pandemic is under control. Managing expectations is key to what you can do. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Plan for Certifications
Experience may not be required, but you might have to earn a certification for some roles. Something like a nursing License or CPR certification is required depending on the position. It can take anything from a few months to a few years to get the necessary qualifications, from a certificate to a degree. Being up to date on your skills and seeking additional training puts some candidates at an advantage.
Highlight Transferable Skills
Transferable skills can be limiting in this industry since expertise is a requirement for quite a few healthcare roles. However, customer service or front desk office jobs require managing different tasks. Other soft skills are decision making, adaptability, multitasking, ethical judgment, collaboration, and conflict management.
Expect Entry-Level Work
Rarely can someone outside of the profession waltz in on their first day to work in a mid-level role. You cannot manage a team if you have too little health care experience. Manage expectations that you will have to complete basic tasks if you a new to the industry. You might even need to volunteer to see if you like the setting and know this is what you want to do as well.
Be a People Person
Talent needs to be at its best from a character standpoint as well. Empathy and compassion will carry you extremely far in healthcare. The capacity to know the individual experience of the patient without having a relationship creates an essential conversational skill for a healthcare worker.
An Openness to Learn
There is a steep learning curve in the hectic medical field where patient care is a top priority. Do not react disproportionately to a stressful situation. Reflect and form new habits. Learning every day is vital for navigating the difficulties of healthcare.
As a health care staffing agency since 1988, WSi has experience with selecting the best candidates in the various spectrums of healthcare positions from admin to the experts. Speak to one of our recruiters today.
Company culture is made by either two things: personalities cooperating or personalities clashing. A factor with this can be generational differences. As Baby Boomers start to retire while GenZ launches their careers, we are in one of the most significant transitional periods the American workforce has ever seen. Throw in a new normal of remote/hybrid work then several challenges will arise. Here is what to anticipate with managing a multigenerational team:
Embrace All of the Benefits
There are benefits to having different generations on a team. They include sharing multiple perspectives, offering diverse ways to solve problems, an opportunity for mentorship, and bridging relationships among various people. These sorts of environments foster growth and can help everyone involved. Generations who have worked longer have learned one way and are set in their habits. Younger generations who have worked in a shorter amount of time are learning and questioning processes. Both are okay and can learn from each other.
Overcome Negative Stereotypes
People are not monolithic and have individual experiences that shape their worldview. No, Boomers are not clumsy with technology, and Millennials are not distracted by their phones. Stereotypes dehumanize co-workers, and we do not need pettiness to distract from completing multiple tasks and team functionality. Saying things like “you’re not like the others” is not helpful even if well-intentioned. This is a passive-aggressive compliment and can cause conflict. Likewise, work around those issues if they become problems. Offer grace to those who need it and try to overcome struggles.
Understand Communication Differences
Communication can be the biggest hurdle of multigenerational teams. Millennials and GenZ are more comfortable using digital devices when older generations might like using the phone or in person. Most senior office workers were likely to return to the office because working in a familiar environment was habitual. GenX might be the one generation who is versatile enough to use all the mediums where they see fit. Younger generations desire feedback and affirmation. Baby boomers will maintain eye contact as GenZ tends to stray away. It is ideal for older generations to understand trends but not to pander.
Anticipate Conflicting Values
Different generations lived through various parts of history and societal changes. A variety of diverse ages like Millennials and GenZ care about ethics more than profits. They are more compassionate with DE&I issues because they are a diverse generation or have friends who are. Baby Boomers are goal-oriented and have worked through a steady timeline of economic growth, GenX can be driven for success, Millennials want boundaries, and GenZ values honesty and authenticity. Older generations should strive to make a meaningful connection with Millennials because they spend at least 40 hours a week (or about one and a half days) in the office or work. They want to see the value in their contributions.
Managing a multigenerational team will be challenging for organizations to maintain peace and productivity. WSi keeps these issues in mind while finding the best candidate fit for the health care profession. Chat with us if you are interested in learning more.
The yearning to “return to normal” will not look the same everywhere. This fact is accurate with recruiting and procurement proceedings. The height of the pandemic was a season when people had to adapt and be flexible. Organizations are assessing what worked and what didn’t. When pandemic era practices became more efficient, organizations should be open-minded enough to change how they implement processes. Here are some hiring trends that we expect will be more long term:
Video conferencing is the norm...
In-person interviewing will change at least with an initial screening process and second-round interviews. Remote interviewing saves time and money with traveling for candidates as well as employees. If you have ever been to an online conference, you can watch sessions back-to-back instead of running around a convention hall. For employers, accessing more information by re-playing the interview helps to consider positive and negative moments. Doing so highlights the personality over the resume.
But, be mindful of how to use it
Avoid leaning too heavily on video, a tool that could be misused. Automation may be convenient for you, but being inauthentic comes at a human cost. Video is ideal for recording dialogue, but don’t make a candidate record their answers for you. It makes candidates anxious, and many don’t want to hear the voice which increases insecurity. You need candidates to remain confident during their job search as well. This is wooden and inauthentic and tells the candidate they won’t be treated like a human if it starts this way. More meaningful connections with candidates are something we will maintain.
Focus on Candidate Needs
Employers have their goals and vision, but organizations must cater to the talent especially now more than ever. Companies need people and must meet them where they are. It is a candidate market right now and not ideal for employers. Keep this in mind with building your teams and implementing company culture. Consider the flexibility of a work/life balance, competitive wages, unique benefits, special social events, and other ways to show that you care.
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a topic that is not going away. More than a trendy concept, DEI provides confidence to all employees to show up each day without hesitation of being themselves. These policies promote increased commitment, productivity, and collaboration that indirectly helps increase revenue and improve retention. Being accessible to all employees despite age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or marital status is vital.
Hiring Per Project
Project-based work is an accelerating trend. Demand can ebb and flow, and it will likely be the norm moving forward. Hiring on a temporary or project basis is an increasing trend. This depends on the boom or bust needs of various industries. Healthcare is more stable than most industries, but pandemic-related emergencies have increased demand as well.
Since WSi has recruited talent starting in 1988, WSi has had the experience to place top talent at recognizable institutions. We consider these upcoming trends with our thorough hiring process. If you are looking for your next position reach out for your staffing needs.
Everyone breathes, and we take it for granted daily. With Respiratory Care Week underway, now is the time to consider hiring respiratory therapists for your hospital or medical facility. There is a significant need for them for people with various breathing issues due to chronic conditions like asthma and Covid complications. Here is why respiratory care is so critical and what we look for is the best candidate:
Why Respiratory Care Week?
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) sponsors Respiratory Care Week every year to celebrate the nurses, doctors, and respiratory therapists who make the lives of patients better who struggle with various breathing issues. The organization this week displays data and facts about breathing and how to improve people's lives.
Expertise in Breathing
We ask questions about the times they were on the job and what they learned during specific circumstances. There are many examples from discovering lung, breathing complications, offering treatment suggestions, examining a patient's chest physical exams, conferring with physicians, analyzing breath, tissue, and blood specimens, overseeing ventilators, and reacting to critical alarms for care.
Patient First Approach
WSi seeks candidates with a patient-first approach. How do they talk to people? Teaching patients and families about lung disease and other complications are essential. After looking over data, have they adapted to the latest information and considered all treatment options. Respiratory therapy is implemented in all health care venues including but not limited to: What decisions did they make and why regarding patient care?
Are They the Best Fit?
With 75% of respiratory therapists employed at hospitals, we know most client needs are related to that specific field. Do the individuals we are considering have the stamina to work in a hospital and juggle multiple needs of the client?
Since WSi has been working in the healthcare staffing space since 1988, you can trust a hard-working agency to locate the best respiratory specialists in Colorado. To speak with an account manager, click here.
