Tips For Starting Your New Job In Healthcare
Congratulations! It’s your first day at a new job in the healthcare field. Starting your career may seem daunting, but here are a few tips to make it easy and to make you successful.
Pay Attention to Office Culture
You were hired because you seemed like a good fit for the workplace, not just for the position. This means you should try to be a part of the workplace culture. Go to lunch or breakfast with the rest of the team. Follow the same routines and understand how things are done.
This may require making some purchases, like certain types of uniforms or scrubs up front. If that seems overwhelming, or if you’re short on cash since you just started a new job, consider a secured credit card to make some of these purchases. You don’t have to look exactly like everyone else to fit in, but it can up your confidence to feel like a part of the team.
Ask Questions
It’s your first day, your first week or even your first month. No matter how far into your new job you are, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Even if you’ve worked in this field before, you don’t know how this hospital or office runs. Those you’re working for and with would rather you ask questions than be lost for the long term. To be a better question – asker , you can try to find the information beforehand. This means you’ve put in the work before you’ve taken up someone else’s time by asking a question.
Don’t Pretend You Know Something That You Don’t
Going right along with asking questions, don’t fake knowing something that you don’t actually know. There are some professions where you might be able to fake it, but healthcare is not the place to pretend. You could be putting someone’s health or life at stake. Be humble and ask questions or for clarification when needed.
Even when working with patients, if someone stumps you, tell them that you’re new. Tell them that even though you’re not sure, you want to find them the best information to help them. Everyone will respect someone taking the time to find the correct information rather than faking knowing something.
Grow Thick Skin
Because you won’t know everything, there’s times when you’re going to get corrected. Depending on where in the medical field you’re working, this could mean decisions have to be made quickly or that tensions run high. You’re going to hear raised voices directed at you.
At some point, you’re going to make a doctor or a nurse upset, no matter how hard you try not to do so. Be prepared for this inevitability and don’t take it personally. Things happen and it doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job or you’re not meant to be there.
Write It Down
This is also a good reason why you should write everything down. Especially when you’re new, take notes. Everyone forgets things, and you’re about to get a library’s worth of information thrown at you. The more you can write down and review later, the better off you’ll be.
Learn From Mistakes
Even if you write things down, and whether they have big consequences or not, you know you’re going to make mistakes. Make sure that you learn from them. Being humble enough to know you screwed up and taking steps to learn from your mistake is one of the best ways to prove you’re a team player and that you want to be the best you can be.
Be a Team player
And it is important for you to be a team player. Whether that means always being early for your shifts or covering a shift from a colleague, this is the time to earn the trust and respect of those you work with. Volunteer to help with office-related events and take the time to get to know those that you work with. This will go a long way in making you feel like you’re a part of the organization.
These are just a few of the things you can do to be successful in your new healthcare position.
