Recent reports from various sources have been saying that the medical field has been slowly changing and becoming more concerned about some personal habits and issues of their employees. You may have all of the training and skills you need, but having all of that may not be enough to get you the job anymore.
Hospitals hold their employees to high standards, which makes sense due to the fact that you will be handling sensitive records, various drugs, very expensive equipment, and working in a field where the lives of others is directly affected by you. Making a serious mistake in the medical career could cost someone their life, and so hospitals must be sure that you not only have what it takes education and skills wise, but that there is no personal issues that could complicate things.
Criminal Activity: This one is a more obvious issue that hospitals have to be stern about, and therefore a fairly thorough background check is done for most all employees in the medical field. Of course it depends on the type of position as well as company policy to determine how tolerant they may be on various types of history. Things like the statute of limitations for certain crimes, as well as the number and actual types of crimes will be evaluated based on company policy; some employers may not allow any criminal history, and others could be more tolerant. Some applications may ask if you have ever been arrested for any type of crime, while other may simply ask for specific types of crimes (felony versus misdemeanor) while others may only ask for history of any crime in the past-so-many years. In all cases, read the application closely and answer honestly. Lying or seeking to cover up could cause more troubles down the road.
Substance abuse: Another obvious one that hospitals have to crack down on. While narcotics are controlled and locked away, having someone on the “inside” is still a risky issue. Doctors, CRNAs, NPs, and PAs – or any position that has access to drugs or prescribes drugs, is going to be really strict on any kind of past substance abuse issues.
Smoking: More and more hospitals are banning smokers from employment. Years ago I worked in the medical field, and always kind of found it odd how people who worked in the field of health could be smokers; it seems like a conflict of interest to me. It was especially odd to find people who worked in the field of cardio pulmonary and respiratory therapy who were smokers. These were people who daily looked at the heart, vessels and lungs of patients and knew firsthand the effects smoking has on the body, and yet they still engaged in it themselves. Well, it seems more and more hospitals are cracking down on it when it comes to employees. So, while quitting smoking will benefit you from a health standpoint, it may also benefit you employment wise.
Personal appearance: Because many medical positions require being on your feet for long periods of time, picking up heavy objects (equipment or patients), and other physical tasks, many hospitals are starting to crack down on things like being out of shape or overweight. Because of some sanity rules, as well as just providing an image of safety for patients, things like tattoos, piercings, and certain hairstyles may be forbidden, as well as other things that may impede you from properly functioning in your position.
So, if you are in the professional medical field, or are considering moving into the field, be sure to take a hard look at whether you have what it takes to thrive and excel in such a position with nothing holding you back.
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