4 Tips For Healthcare Recruitment And Retention During A Pandemic
When a pandemic is declared, stricter measures are usually employed to keep everyone safe from the disease. The pandemic has been announced in most cases due to the rapid spread of an illness and the large amounts of people being infected.
On the frontline of the pandemic, healthcare workers work tirelessly to assist those in need. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other medical personnel put themselves in danger when facing the illness, but they still get up each day and do their best.
“4 Tips For Healthcare Recruitment And Retention During A Pandemic.“
This giving nature of these brave souls is what drives them, and it could sometimes be to the detriment of their health. During these times, employers may be faced with a high staff turnover and staff shortages. Here are some tips that could help employers recruit and retain their workforce during a pandemic:
Improve Teamwork
Even after carefully planning the course of action for an emergency, it may still be difficult for people to be fully prepared for the extent of the problem.
No matter how much preparation is done, a pandemic could surely overwhelm the current staff. Furthermore, severe cases and the sheer volume of patients may deter prospective workers from applying for a job. Medical facilities usually have a team of medical personnel that works together, and when the team can no longer function well due to fatigue and burnout, it will affect the entire operation.
Ensuring that enough personnel is on duty to support one another should be the administration's priority. When the current staff feels that they have enough team members to help them during their workday, they may stay and not look at other employment options, but if the time comes that an additional hand is needed, it should be prioritized.
Recruiters can use software that tracks job applicants and use this system to look for potential candidates to hire for the vacant positions. Finding new talent to join this well-functioning team would be easier to do when every detail can be discussed with the applicant upon recruitment.
Suitable Work Environment
Many facilities worldwide are struggling with scarcity of equipment on top of the staff shortages, putting strain on the overall work environment.
They say that a poor performer blames his tools, but in the medical field, personnel cannot function to the best of their abilities if they do not have the necessary equipment to provide comprehensive service.
Staff who have a good understanding of the job at hand may improvise when temporary shortages occur. Still, prolonged periods of using substandard measures may affect the results. Medical facilities and their administration must always prioritize providing a suitable work environment for their employees to work efficiently and deliver the utmost care for the patients in need.
Emotional And Mental Well-Being Protection
During a pandemic, there could be worldwide panic, anxiety, and depression due to the severity of the situation. Healthcare workers are not exempt from these emotions, and they may even have the added pressure of their jobs to deal with on top of everything else.
Protecting the emotional and mental wellbeing of every member of the staff could ensure that they would feel valued and appreciated, and as a result, they would not feel the urge to eventually quit and leave their post. Having a wellness program in place would ease the stress and anxiety that medical personnel usually experience during these times.
Group and individual sessions with qualified therapists and coaches have been shown to improve the resilience of the staff. Ensuring that they have regular access to these needed debriefing sessions could see them improving over time.
The current staff and the recruits would see these interventions as a bonus point for their employment and would be more willing to remain in their posts.
Adequate Precautions
A pandemic would usually bring about stricter safety measures and precautions to ensure the safety of the public and healthcare workers. Being on the frontline could leave the staff more exposed and at higher risk of contracting the illness.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) could make the difference between life and death during an outbreak of a disease. Medical facilities should have the best possible gear and measures in place to protect their staff.
If medical personnel realize the risks and there are no adequate measures being taken by the employer to protect them, they would be less willing to show up for duty which may cause further shortages and inadequate healthcare to serve the patients. Keep in mind that no one would put themselves in danger, even when they have an innate drive to help others.
Together On The Frontline
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and healthcare facilities should remember this. If the whole medical staff is not taken care of properly, they will eventually pack their bags and leave. As an employer, you should not let issues like this worsen over time, because it’s not just the employees that are being taken for granted in this situation, but also the patients that would suffer due to lack of assistance. During a pandemic, facilities could be standing red-faced, but applying these tips mentioned above may significantly improve their retention and recruitment rates.