When most people think about professionals in the healthcare industry, many tend to think of caring, kind, and patient individuals. Although this is true, there’s more to being a healthcare professional than having a ‘kind’ heart.
Whether you’re an emergency medical technician who recently got their EMT certification or an experienced nurse, there are particular skills, qualities, and traits every ‘great’ healthcare professional has that helps them be successful in what they do.
Here are vital traits every great healthcare professional has.
Passion
Firstly, if you’re looking to join the healthcare industry, you’ll need to be passionate about what you do. That’s because when it comes to this sector, at the end of the day, you’re not only doing your job—you’re committing yourself to help others and save lives. Although it can be demanding, challenging, and tiring at times, it’s one of the most rewarding occupations ever. That’s why you need to really love what you do.
Great Communication Skills
Excellent healthcare professionals should communicate with ease since you’ll face different people in every shift you have. You’re essentially working with people day in and out, building and maintaining relationships. Since everyone in a hospital is wary, you need to be able to listen and converse with patients and their loved ones while understanding their needs and thoroughly explain their care plan in a way that makes sense to them.
Multitasker
Since the healthcare industry is volatile, you really don’t know what you’re getting the next day, and you may find yourself caring for several patients in one shift or not. If you’re a nurse working in a hospital environment, your typical day would involve checking patients under your care or a doctor roaming around hospitals to see your patients’ conditions—you’ll need to learn how to multitask. After all, it can be a hectic environment since there’s so much going on at the same time, making multi-tasking essential.
Fit and Active
It’s no secret that working in the healthcare industry can be tiring, but it can be more exhausting than most people would think, as it requires you to be on your feet for most of the day. Plus, you may also need to take care of things beyond your contract to help patients in the best way you could. That’s why staying fit and active is crucial. At most, it’s best for healthcare professionals to have a moderate level of fitness, helping them keep up with the fast-paced nature of the job.
Professional
Although professionalism is such a broad term, in the medical industry, most people would accept it as acting in a particular manner—and that includes showing an ‘appropriate’ demeanor, offering great respect, and having the proficiency to get the job done. A ‘professional’ healthcare worker should always place the patient’s well-being above their own, allowing them to care for the people while gaining their trust and confidence at the same time.
Thoroughness
The medical industry is a fickle one, and a single mistake can have devastating or even fatal effects. A patient often wants to know what their health providers have not overlooked an aspect in their care. That’s why every excellent healthcare professional needs to be thorough and always pay close attention to details during evaluations, preventing the patient from future ailments and discomfort in the future.
Problem-solving Skills
Working in the healthcare industry, expect every day to be significantly different. There’s always something new you need to solve, and, in most cases, in a short time. Therefore, you need to think on your feet or on a whim to ensure you’re prepared for any scenario or issues you may face. The patient’s family can disagree with your care recommendations or appointment chances at the last minute.
That’s why beyond the hectic schedule and ever-growing demand for patient care, ‘good’ healthcare professionals should be able to work through problems calmly and rationally—and come up with a solution that benefits the patient most and what they’re the happiest with.
Empathy and Compassion
More than anything else, a ‘good’ healthcare professional should be able to show compassion to their patients, providing utmost care whenever necessary. After all, in most cases, patients find themselves in difficult or frustrating situations, and they usually look for someone who can listen, understand, and respect their wishes or thoughts. That’s why every excellent healthcare professional should do their best to show empathy and understanding, positively impacting patients.
As a medical professional and general healthcare provider, exhibiting the qualities mentioned can help you create long-lasting relationships with your patients in no time. In the end, each patient you assist will be healthier—inside and out.
