As new graduates enter the workforce, they will be taking healthcare jobs that have changed considerably over the past several decades. While nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals used to spend much of their time writing notes by hand and searching through paper files to find needed information, today's new graduates will never know what that was like. Because the healthcare programs of today emphasize the use of technology and other important skills, even experienced healthcare professionals can learn from those who have recently graduated.
One thing you can learn from recent graduates is the importance of linking costs and patient outcomes. Approximately ten years ago, many patients really had no idea how much healthcare services cost. As a result, there was no way to link the cost of such services with the quality of the services. Now that this information is available online, patients and healthcare providers can link the two metrics. New physicians and nurses know the importance of controlling costs and ensuring that patients receive quality services for the money they pay, which is something you should be concerned about as a health professional.
Recent graduates often have a great deal of technical knowledge, especially if they majored in healthcare administration or a related subject. Younger workers can teach experienced workers about the importance of using technology for healthcare jobs. Mobile technology makes it possible for healthcare professionals to look up the costs of medications, calculate drug dosages, communicate with specialists in other countries, and share information about patients. In the United States, the National Institutes of Health have even been funding projects to determine the impact of mobile technology on patient care. Because changes in technology have affected all healthcare jobs, it is important for experienced workers to learn new skills in this area.
Recent graduates can also teach experienced healthcare workers the importance of diversity. Many of today's graduates grew up with people of other races, colors, and ethnicities, but that was not as common for members of older generations. Cultural knowledge and awareness have been identified as important traits for nurses and other healthcare workers, so it is important for experienced workers to learn from younger workers when it comes to issues of tolerance and acceptance. Success in any healthcare job also demands the ability to consider cultural differences when conducting patient assessments. For example, members of some cultures eat certain foods that may contribute to an increased risk of hypertension or other chronic conditions.
Working with recent graduates gives healthcare professionals the opportunity to bridge the generational gap, but it takes hard work on both sides of that gap. Older workers must be open to learning about technology, diversity, and finance, while younger workers must be open to learning from experienced workers who have held healthcare jobs for several decades.
(Photo courtesy of stockimages / freedigitalphotos.net)
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