The healthcare industry is a very important sector that creates a significant impact and makes crucial contributions to society. Healthcare professionals are in charge of nursing people back to optimal health, which is a job that requires both technical and soft skills.
When looking for a healthcare professional, you might be focused on experience, education, expertise, and other hard skills that reinforce their technical knowledge. However, you should also be paying attention to their character and personality traits — these are what will help them serve as assets in your company and change the lives of your patients.
Here are the most important qualities of healthcare talent that you should be looking for when hiring healthcare professionals.
Genuine Passion
The healthcare industry requires interacting with a lot of people with different ailments and diseases. More than the ability to diagnose and recommend treatment plans, healthcare professionals should also have a genuine care for their patients. This comes with a passion for their job and a love for what they do.
Especially in a demanding, exhausting, and competitive industry like healthcare, it is passions that will drive healthcare professionals forward.
Communication Skills
A healthcare professional needs to be a people person, considering that they will be interacting with their patients and families so often. Hence, they need to have great communication skills that will enable them to listen, consult, understand, and build relationships with clients. In a sensitive setting like a healthcare facility, a professional with outstanding communication skills can help patients feel supported, valued, and at ease.
Multi-tasking capabilities
Healthcare professionals are relatively very busy, running around the hospital to conduct a variety of different tasks all at once. They also handle different patients at a time, each with unique needs. In order for healthcare professionals to be able to manage this, they need to know how to and be excellent at multitasking. This is how they can thrive in a busy and demanding environment.
Physical fitness
Nurses, doctors, and other professionals in the healthcare setting are almost always on their feet. They run to different areas of the hospital, must respond quickly if called by the patient, search the entire hospital for key nurses or surgeons they need to consult with, etc. Healthcare professionals are on their feet for almost their entire shift, which is why they need to be physically fit and able to meet the demands of the workplace.
Problem-solving skills
Different diseases and sicknesses don’t always have a simple textbook solution. Sometimes, doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals need to come up with their own strategies and find the best way to deliver treatment. Hence, they need to have good problem-solving skills and think on their feet.
Compassion
A good healthcare professional isn’t defined by their knowledge and abilities. Moreso, they are great because of their genuine care and compassion for their patients. Healthcare professionals aren’t just there to diagnose and treat patients. They need to remember that they are working with people who need comfort and support.
The healthcare industry, by nature, requires professionals who are not only technically skilled but also embody character traits that are beneficial for patients. If you are on the search for a healthcare professional, make sure that you are looking for candidates with these important qualities and soft skills.
Need help finding professionals to fill your open positions in healthcare? We have the expertise to help you pool and acquire the best talents. Contact HirePower Personnel today and let’s talk about what we can do to source and onboard top-quality professionals for your company.