5 Career Mistakes Healthcare Providers Make

The healthcare industry is among the most difficult yet rewarding sectors. Healthcare providers, from doctors and nurses to therapists and technicians, must accept a large responsibility regarding caring for human life.

With the numerous and sometimes overwhelming demands of work, it’s easy to forget some of the essential aspects of professional development and self-care. Below are five common career mistakes healthcare providers make and suggestions to avoid them.

1. Failure to Keep Up with Clinical Practice and Developments in Medicine

Health care is always changing. There is always new research, new treatments, new protocols and new technology that can require new learning. For example, every person who works in health care would benefit from a diploma of emergency healthcare. If a healthcare worker does not stay current in their discipline, ultimately they will not be able to provide the best care. Outdated practices can affect patient outcomes and providers’ credibility.

Make continuous learning a priority. Subscribe to journals, go to conferences, take online courses, and maintain your certifications. Being aware of evidence-based innovations in your practice will help make your practice better, keep it safe, and keep it current.

2. Bleeding Yourself Dry and Burning Out

Maybe it’s shift work with back-to-back patients or an emotionally taxing environment, but many health professionals take on long shifts and fill up their schedules with patients. The commitment is impressive. But we know that “overworking” has consequences like fatigue and burnout.

Burnout results in impaired judgment, reduced empathy, and an increased risk of making medical errors. Ultimately, burnout can drive the professional out of the profession altogether. Be sure to respect workspace boundaries. That means using breaks, using vacation days, and asking for help when there is too much work to manage. Organizations are recognizing burnout and developing programs for wellness. Utilize these resources. Remember, you cannot be good to others if you are not taking care of yourself.

3. Not Cultivating Soft Skills

When you start your journey in healthcare, you are taught clinical practice, or direct patient care. Healthcare professionals are responsible for their clinical practice and the development of clinical knowledge but they cannot be held accountable for equally important soft skills including communication styles, empathy, conflict resolution, and the ability to work in a team environment.

Providers lacking in soft skills will have difficulties developing trust with patients or creating collaboration with health care personnel to adequately deal with emotionally charged situations. While skills such as poor bedside manners or non-effective communication may not seem very consequential to providers, they can be dangerous to patient care and provider reputation.

Develop yourself personally. You can do this by developing your active listening, developing your emotional intelligence, and asking other coworkers for feedback to see what your weaknesses are. You can also attend workshops, try to get a mentor, or role play to build your soft skills and make you a healthier and more well-rounded provider.

4. Neglecting the Value of Networking

Healthcare professionals are often busy committing their time to only their clinical pursuits and are unable to develop and maintain professional relationships. As a result, many miss opportunities for collaborations, mentoring, research and job opportunities that may assist them in their career development. A strong professional network provides support and can create opportunities. It keeps members informed about current events that are pertinent to the profession.

Connect with peers and leaders in your profession, whether that is through organizations you belong to, conferences, continuing education or through an online professional networking platform like Linkedin.

Look to see if there are specialty groups, meet-ups in your geographical area or simply ask someone to be a mentor. Networking doesn’t have to mean you are looking for a job; it engages you with the larger healthcare system.

5. Not Paying Attention to Professional Obligations

Lapse in documentation, breach in HIPAA practices, lapse in continuing education requirements, and lapses in license renewals can carry serious consequences that range from termination to legal action.

Healthcare providers can dive right into patient care and forget their obligations to administration and ethics. Be sure to stay organized and proactive concerning compliance. Set reminders for your renewals, write down everything regarding your relations with patients, and continue to be compliant with your ethical, legal, and professional obligations. If you are supervising, you will also want to ensure your staff is compliant.

Endnote

Healthcare providers greatly influence individual and community health. Yet, even skilled professionals risk success by neglecting personal growth. Ignoring stress, change, or relationships can harm careers. By managing stress and adapting, providers strengthen their future.

Soft skills and professional connections matter. Continued growth creates a more rewarding and sustainable healthcare career.

Career Reload Team

We’re a team of writers and career experts who share practical insights to help you navigate the professional world. Our members include Certified Professional Résumé Writers (CPRW) and Certified Digital Career Strategists (CDCS), and we bring experience from many industries to help you build your career with confidence. Download free Word resume templates and resume templates for Google Docs.