Category: HCP

Healthcare facilities across the country are experiencing dramatic HCP shortages. On a global scale, it is predicted that there will be a deficit of 13 million nurses by 2030. For reference, the global nursing population was around 28 million by January 2022, when the report was written. There are many reasons why the healthcare system is straining under the weight of impending shortages. The pandemic and stressful work conditions are among the most commonly cited, and for good reasons. It cannot be forgotten that this problem is multifaceted, however. The healthcare shortage is the result of a confluence of factors, rather than one singular catalyst. With this in mind, the link between an aging population and the HCP shortage cannot be overlooked.

How Rapidly Is the Population Aging?

In the US, the senior demographic is exponentially growing. From 1920 to 2020, a US Census found that the 65 and overpopulation has grown five times faster than every other demographic. By 2020, these senior citizens made up 16.8 percent of America’s population. From 4.9 million (or 4.7% of the population), there was an elderly population of 55.8 million in 2020. For reference, this is 16.8% of the population. Though the elderly population has steadily grown over time, 2010 to 2020 marked the largest increase in any decade, from 1920 onwards. It should be noted that although this growth is notable, the US is only the 34th oldest population at the time of writing. Japan leads the pack with 28.5%, which is significantly larger than the US’s ratio.

How Does the Aging Population Affect the Healthcare Industry?

As the aging demographic rises, so does the demand for healthcare services. Understandably, older populations encounter more medical issues compared to their younger counterparts. This includes (but is not limited to) osteoarthritis, dementia, chronic back and neck pains, hearing and sight loss, and more. As a result, these people will be in need of additional medical attention. Because the aging population makes up such a large portion of the population, this raises the demand for HCPs and healthcare services by orders of magnitude. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics proposes that the bulk of the job growth for HCP work will be as a direct result of these aging populations.

Why Would This Increase in HCP Demand Be Negative?

On paper, this is very much a good thing since higher demand means more work. In reality, this is somewhat of a double edged sword. When the industry is already struggling with HCP shortages, the increased admissions of elderly people will only exacerbate the issue even further. Hospitals or long-term care centres that are already at maximum capacity will either have to turn their backs on elderly people seeking care or will admit them and further increase their daunting workload.

HCPs will be further stretched out, as HCP-to-patient staffing ratios become more and more untenable. When a facility handles more patients than they can be reasonably expected to accommodate, then the quality of care will suffer as a result. Elderly patients in need of urgent treatment will either be forced to sit on the waiting list or subject themselves to substandard care. In these conditions, neither the facilities, the HCPs, nor the patients themselves win out.

How Else Does the Aging Population Affect the Healthcare Shortage?

As time passes, existing HCPs will continue to age out of the industry. Senior nurse leaders, doctors, physicians, facility administrators, and more will continue to retire by the droves. This contributes to the turnover that we are currently experiencing in the healthcare industry, and puts further pressure on the HCPs that remain. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 600,000 US HCPs are expected to leave the industry by 2027. Retirement is cited among the main motivators, alongside the burnout and stress that has been tied to the profession for quite some time.

In addition, HCPs are retiring much earlier precisely because of the stressful working conditions, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the median age for HCPs sat at 52. Of these, at least one-fifth of the HCP base was heavily considering retirement, directly because of the pandemic. Not only is the workforce aging out, but HCPs want to leave the industry much earlier than initially expected. This leaves facilities scrambling to fill the gaps, and gives an even greater workload to the nurses, doctors and physicians that choose to remain in the industry. If left unattended, this will cause a self-perpetuating cycle of turnover, increased stress, and accelerated retirements.

What Can Be Done?

As you can see, the US’s aging population affects and informs its HCP shortage crisis. It adds further pressure on facilities while increasing turnover as more senior HCPs retire in droves. That begs the question, then: what can be done to address this? For the long-term outlook of a facility, investing in developing healthcare talent is the only way to sustainably tackle this issue. There are a number of programs that were founded to address this exact issue. For example: The Florida Government has made significant investments in HCP education infrastructure.

Other programs like the ASPIRE Nurse Scholars program addresses the issue of accessibility and affordability, by offering scholarships to excellent students who are economically disadvantaged. These are just a few of the numerous programs that were started to bolster the HCP pipeline. Better accessibility, improved infrastructure, and government funding is needed, to make up for the retired HCPs who are leaving the industry.

Are There Any Short-Term Staffing Solutions?

These are the long-term solutions, but what about short-term stopgaps? Investing in new HCPs may pay off in the future, but there are vacancies that need to be filled this very second. For these, facilities have turned to temporary staffing solutions from nurse agencies and staffing apps like VitaWerks. This allows them to book temporary HCPs for a specific time period. It could be weeks, months, or even a single shift. This allows facilities to access readily available and experienced HCPs who can immediately contribute.

Instead of “replacing” full-time HCPs, they are there to help and supplement them, by taking some of the workload and lightening up the burden as a result. These options have even gained popularity among HCPs who prefer more work-life balance and flexibility when it comes to their work schedule. When it comes to accounting for temporary surges in demand, or biding time until facilities can bring more long-term staff on board, this kind of “per diem” staffing is the way to go.

Looking Forward

The HCP shortage will not stop anytime soon. An aging population is one of the major factors contributing to these conditions, but it certainly is not the only one. Regardless, all facilities can do now is think on their toes. For the future of the industry, big investments in the long term must be made. Education and training for new HCPs could alleviate these dramatic shortages, someday. Meanwhile, short-term staffing solutions are available for facilities that need more HCPs as soon as possible. With the right resource allocation, hospitals, long-term care centres, and other facilities can continue to thrive.

First impressions are everything in the healthcare industry. A successful job interview can mean the difference between a secured gig and a few extra months of job hunting. Interviews allow hospitals to get a feel of what motivates you, what your skills are, and whether or not you are a perfect fit for their culture and mission statement. There is no silver bullet approach to interviews that will work all the time, of course. Different facilities look for different traits and qualities from their healthcare workers. But with the right attitude, mindset, and general approach, you can drastically improve your chances of succeeding in the interview process.

Do your research

What are the facility’s core values? What will your role entail, and what are they looking for from their interviewees? To find out, you want to do your share of thorough research. Look at the job listing, their website, and even a few articles about the facility. This will give you a grasp of what they are looking for, their reputation around your area, and you can tailor your interview approach to that. When you are asked a question or tested on the knowledge of the facility, you can show them that you did not just apply indiscriminately. You are invested in this opportunity and you want to see it through.

Prepare yourself for questions asked

Different facilities will ask different questions, this much is guaranteed. However, there are a number of recurring questions you can expect to find, in a variety of forms. These include, but are not limited to:

What motivates you as an HCP?

Facilities want to know what drives their staff. They want to make sure they are enlisting driven, top quality professionals who are determined to provide the best healthcare possible. They do not want mercenaries who are simply in the industry because of the paycheck. When you answer this question, be as honest as you can possibly be. Draw from your past experiences, and share why HCP work means so much to you on a personal level.

Example:

For most of my life, I have looked up to nurses. My mom was a doctor, and my dad was a physician, so I grew up in that environment. Their passion for saving others, and their commitment to their jobs never ceased to amaze me. I want to help others in the same way and to the best of my capacity, as a nurse. I want to contribute to my community and save the lives of patients in need.

Why did you apply with us?

For this question and many others, you want to do your research. Facilities do not want stock answers that are generally applicable in most contexts. They want HCPs who are invested in contributing to their facility. Qualified professionals who align with a hospital’s workplace culture or attitude may be prioritized, over professionals who are marginally more experienced or credentialled. Read on a hospital’s core value, mission and vision and approach. Share why you would be a perfect fit for them, and how your qualities align with their goals.

Example:

I feel like I have a lot to contribute to this facility’s team oriented culture. I like collaborating with fellow HCPs and building chemistry as a team, to provide even better healthcare services. I practice accountability and responsibility wherever I go. I know my actions will reflect on my facility, and I carry myself accordingly. Eventually, I want to grow into the kind of worker that can lead by example and lift up everyone around them. I personally think that the values and approach of this facility perfectly align with my own.

Can you work well with others? 

Healthcare is an incredibly team-oriented industry. You  will be asked to collaborate with a diverse group of healthcare professionals with different backgrounds and areas of expertise. The success of a team is the success of the facility. You can have as many technical skills and certifications as humanly possible, but without the capacity to work with others you are essentially unmarketable. Talk about why you work well in a team setting. Highlight your interpersonal skills and pass successes. This includes communication, active listening and more.

Example:

As a HCP, communication is extremely important to me. I like making sure that everyone in my unit is on the same page, at all times. I was once working with a patient, and he had telltale signs of anxiety. He was looking down, not maintaining eye contact, and biting his nails. With this in mind, I did my best to ensure a safe and welcoming environment. It took time, but eventually I was able to reach a breakthrough. Whether it was with patients or fellow HCPS, I strongly believe in taking time to build that rapport.

Dress nicely

Your outfit will leave the first impression with your potential employers. You want to dress in a professional and clean manner, to show any prospective facilities that you value their time and are serious about applying for their opening. An understated, but sleek business casual look or totally professional business attire will do. When in doubt, a matching dark suit with a light dress shirt will always work.

Avoid overly gaudy or intricately patterned outfits, accessories, or anything that will show off tattoos. Whether fair or not, facilities will interpret this as a “rowdy, unprofessional” look. Make sure your entire outfit, from your shirt to your shoes, is not creased or overly wrinkled. Finally, a clean shaven look with a neat hairstyle is a must. In any industry this will work, but especially in the case of HCP work. Facilities want HCPs who buy into a culture of professionalism, in every aspect.

Approach with the right attitude

Half the battle is mental, with interviews. You can prepare perfectly and say all the right things ,but your body language will betray your inner thoughts. You want to project the right attitude, and enter each interview relaxed yet quietly confident. Show your prospective facilities a willingness to learn, and a collected demeanor. Avoid stumbling over your words, and be sure to maintain eye contact and good posture. These may seem like little touches, but the small things eventually add up.

Post-pandemic facilities are still wrestling with nationwide HCP shortages. With no end in sight, various hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities are struggling with the consequences. Short staffing will cripple the industry if facility managers are not willing to adapt to the times. With the right strategic approach, however, this is still very much possible.

How Do Shortages Cripple Facilities?

Initially, the downsides to the HCP shortages are rather obvious. With fewer people on hand, facilities end up spreading their remaining staff across a large pool of patients and responsibilities. This means the HCPs that choose to stay now have to handle unsustainably brutal and lengthy shifts while handling a workload that should be spread between multiple HCPs. This leaves them stressed, fatigued, and potentially burned out, which increases turnover dramatically.

If left unchecked, the turnover will only cripple operations worse. The remaining HCPs will get more and more stressed, and the quality of care will plummet as a result. The patients, the facilities, and the HCPs themselves will suffer greatly as a result. HCPs must work stressed and burned out, facilities will have their reputations tarnished, and patients will be provided increasingly worse healthcare.

Can the Shortage Damage a Facility’s Bottom Line?

A number of ripple effects spring from this. Appropriate staffing levels are connected with profitability. If there are enough HCP staff on hand, then the quality of care is better, which means facilities earn more as a result. This makes sense, as HCPs are less burdened with tasks and responsibilities, and can focus their energies on their regular duties and only a handful of patients. When a facility’s staffing levels are less adequate and the care quality takes a hit, your profitability will ultimately plummet over the long run. Less and fewer people will admit themselves to your facility, because of the negative reputation that it has generated.

What Can Be Done to Address These Problems?

Staffing solutions have developed at a rapid pace, during the pandemic. Facilities get on board experienced professional HCPs to weather the storm and keep staffing shortages level. Though a short-term solution, this allows them to survive surges in demand or bide their time, before their newly hired HCPs are prepared to contribute in a meaningful capacity. In particular, the VitaWerks app empowers facilities with the ability to bring in the best HCPs in their area, as soon as possible. Healthcare managers can browse through a curated list of the finest RNs, LPNs/LVNs, and CNAs around. All their credentials, qualifications, and past work experience is available to see, at the click of a button. Find the best HCPs for your facility in no time, with the VitaWerks app

HCPs get their shoes dirty all the time. In the middle of a shift, it can get exposed to all kinds of fluids and substances. Footwear does not come cheap, and you want to make your nursing shoes last as long as possible. Before they end up filthy and unusable, keep your work shoes clean with these foolproof tips and tricks.

Check Material

Not all cleaning methods are compatible with every material. You may be able to throw some nursing shoes into the washing machine, but others will just get damaged. Find out what your shoes are made of before you proceed with cleaning them.

Throw Them in the Washing Machine

If your shoes are made of non-leather material like synthetic nursing shoes, then you can throw them into the washing machine. This also works for thin fabric shoes and thin leather uppers. At all costs, you want to avoid putting in clog-type shoes. They are often too heavy and can damage washing machines as a result.

Air-Dry Your Washed Shoes

After you wash your shoes, avoid putting them in the dryer. This will inevitably damage both the machine and your shoes. Depending on the material, your shoes may end up shrinking or the soles will get destroyed by the constant banging around the dryer’s interior. Instead, air-dry them in a well-ventilated area and/or in front of the fan. This ensures clean, dry and undamaged nursing shoes.

Disinfect Your Shoes

If you are using heavy leather shoes or you wanna avoid using the washing machine too much, you can simply disinfect your shoes. This can be done with a spray mixture of cold water and vinegar or simple disinfectant wipes. The latter is quick and convenient, but it may damage leather over a period of time. In that case, you want to moisturize your shoes before wiping them down. The water and vinegar mixture may seem crude, but it is a sustainable and quick way of keeping your shoes clean.

Whether you are picking up travel nurse contracts or taking a vacation, HCPs have a load of opportunities to travel. With the Nurse Licensure Compact expanding by the day, they enjoy more job opportunities than ever before. Provided they have licensure in one of the 42 NLC states, they can practice freely within these territories without applying for new licensure. It is an exciting time to travel as a nurse, but you still want to err on the side of caution. Going to a new location is exciting, but you want to stay secure at all times. Consider these travel safety tips, before you plan your next flight or book your next travel nurse contract.

Do Research Beforehand

You want to get a good grasp of where you will be staying. In addition to tourist destinations and eateries, look up public transportation options. Would it be better to stick to a rented vehicle, or is commuting a safe and viable option? Finding the right answer may save you some money, in the long term. More importantly, you want to look into the crime rates of the surrounding areas. If you cannot avoid passing through certain zones or streets, you will at least be able to go through them with extra caution.

Come Well Prepared

As much as possible, you want to avoid conflict whenever it arises. If you have no choice, you at least want the option to fight back and protect yourself. Just be sure to check if pepper spray is legal wherever you are travelling. If it is, then this is a portable and convenient mode of self-defence. In case you wound yourself after an encounter (or from a mere accident), you also want a first aid kit on hand.

Bring Copies of Important Documentation

Carrying all your personal documents can be a pain. You want to avoid bringing them out as much as possible, but you are regularly asked to present them when travelling. Losing these items can be a costly mistake that can throw a massive wrench in your plans. To avoid this, you want to make photocopies of your documents. You can bring them out instead of your documents, in some cases. More importantly, they can provide temporary identification in case you lose the main documents. This includes but is not limited to, your passport, social security card, birth certificate, nursing credentials and more.

Keep Your Family Informed

It is important to keep your friends and family informed about where you are, and when you are traveling. This not only assures them that you are safe and sound, but this also provides emergency contacts in case something unexpected happens. Keep their contact information in your phone, and update them whenever you are departing or when you have arrived at your destination. Keep in regular contact with them too, if you can. Contacting them every day or every other day is a great way to maintain your connections while reassuring them, with regards to your safety.

Stay Aware at All Times

This may seem like simple advice, but it can be a lifesaver. It is all too easy to get preoccupied with your phone or whatever you are listening to on your earbuds, while you are out and about. In reality, you want to be aware at all times, especially while you are in unfamiliar territory. Not only can you take in the new surroundings, but this avoids potential run-ins or bumps that can lead to an unfortunate escalation. As much as possible, avoid walking by yourself at night at all costs as well. If you must, ask a security guard to walk with you to your vehicle at a late hour.

HCP work can be brutal at times. Healthcare workers often end up too tired to do anything, after particularly long shifts. That just makes hobbies all the more valuable. Having a skill or a pastime to focus on lets you keep your mind off of work while staying sharp and engaged. When you do come back to your shift, you return refreshed and ready to take on the challenges for the day. There is no wrong way to approach this, but we have listed a handful of hobbies that we know many HCPs would enjoy.

Crocheting

When you crochet, you are making garments or fabrics with just yarn and a special needle and hook. You can make a surprising number of things through crocheting, such as (but not limited to) pot-holders, yarn dolls, mini baskets, beanies and much more. Though initially daunting, crocheting is a great hobby for any HCP to pick up. It allows for self-expression, reduces stress, and increases memory retention. It is also a great way to join groups of fellow crocheting enthusiasts and expand your social circle as a result.

Writing

Sometimes, you want to sit down and express your inner thoughts. Writing provides an outlet for HCPs who have something to say about their lives, line of work, or any subject they can conceive. You can create poems, essays, or even whole books if you are ambitious enough. It could be about HCP work or something completely different like entertainment or history. You can even start writing blogs to publish on your LinkedIn, Tumblr, Medium, or other site of choice. Just remember that you are not starting every project in the pursuit of “making it” or “hitting it big.” The act of writing itself has value as a creative outlet and productive hobby.

Art

This encompasses painting, drawing, and even digital art. Many people who start out late in life are understandably put off by the idea of drawing. There is a lot to learn, and it can be easy to feel helpless or lost. Luckily, there are a number of guides and tutorials available online. More importantly, you can only improve as an artist by doing. Drawing personal pieces for yourself, embracing progress when you notice it, and taking things one step at a time can be an immensely rewarding process for any HCP.

Web Design

Websites are a powerful tool. A good website is the perfect way to promote your brand and project a desired image. Whether you are working for yourself or a company, the skills are in high demand. Picking up web design may prove useful if you want to promote or push your own products. Failing that, it can just be a fun learning experience as you create websites for yourself or your friends. There are a number of tutorials available online, from free YouTube lessons to paid lectures from services like Skillshare.

Cooking

Cooking can be a tiring enterprise, but it is equal parts fun and useful. When you cook your own meals, you have full control over the culinary experience and you usually save money as well. If you are really determined and you have a freezer, you can even pre-prepare freezer-friendly meals like tomato sauce or dumplings for the whole week. Similar to art, it can even provide a space for self-expression and experimentation, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to traditional recipes.

Casually accepting every travel nurse contract sent your way is not sustainable. In all travel nurse positions, from RN, to LPN, to CNA, these HCPs lay everything on the line like everyone else. It only makes sense that they deserve to be paid what they are worth. Travel nurse salaries in the US may be competitive with full-time gigs, but that does not mean you can stay complacent.

No matter the travel nurse contract length, you want to peel through the layers and discover the truth on your terms. In this article, we will show you how you can negotiate with your agencies and find out your true value. With these travel nurse tips, you will be able to secure the best deals with the best travel nurse agencies in your area.

Look into the Agency’s True Pay Rate

Nursing agencies already have signed agreements with facilities regarding how much an agent is paid. While this amount is fixed, the agency disperses that amount between your travel nurse salary per hour, benefits, travel reimbursements and the agency’s own commission.

Nurses are often given a “blended” amount, which takes your hourly rate, and includes reimbursements and benefits. Benefits and reimbursements take away from your hourly rate, so this is not an accurate picture of your effective pay.

Before you even accept a travel nurse LPN job, you want to figure out the true pay rate. Compare and contrast different contracts, to figure out the travel nurse salary average. By knowing the median, you gain a clear picture of what is being offered, which can help you make an informed business decision.

Always Talk Travel Reimbursement

Naturally, travel nursing comes with its fair share of travel-related expenses. This is why many nursing agencies offer reimbursement for these costs. When you are negotiating your contract, travel nurses want to take a closer look at the terms of reimbursement. Figure out what costs will be covered and how reimbursement is calculated.

For example: some agencies will reimburse you based on miles traveled, while others just provide you with a set relocation stipend. If the cost of travel exceeds reimbursement, you want to bring this up before you sign anything. Keep in mind that these stipends are also travel nurse tax-free when you have to calculate your taxes.

Discuss Additional Reimbursement

Some agencies provide reimbursements not tied to your travel nurse income. This includes free housing, public transportation, child care and work-related supplies. Within reason, you want to make sure that your agency is covering as many travel expenses as they can.

Select agencies can even provide travel nurse health insurance, which is not always provided. If this matters to you, review each contract to make sure that this is provided, and to what extent.

Ask about additional reimbursements or benefits. You also want to inquire about specific terms and whether or not they are tied to the pay rate.

Friendships are invaluable for many people, but doubly so for healthcare professionals. Friends can act as confidants for our deepest concerns, company at the happiest moments of our lives, and anchors that give us different perspectives in troubled times. Conversely, loneliness or social isolation has been linked to higher levels of stress and depression by institutions such as the American Psychological Association. In a stressful and demanding profession like healthcare, friendships inside the workplace are all but essential. Sometimes, a pleasant conversation with your colleagues, during lunch, is exactly what you need to lighten your mood. That being said, making friends in a healthcare setting comes with its own unique challenges.

Why Do Healthcare Professionals Need Friends?

Unlike most professions, HCPs must confront mortality frequently. For nurses, doctors, and physicians in the ER or ICU, these stakes are encountered on a regular basis. Even on an “uneventful” shift, you may walk past patients fighting for their lives or geriatric patients at their end-of-life care. It is a unique and mentally draining part of the job.

Though friends outside of work also matter, it is hard to convey the HCP experience to someone from the outside looking in. Friends in the workplace have invaluable insight and can relate to your struggle on a deeper level. Additionally, they may also provide helpful and actionable advice from an informed perspective.

With friends, work becomes less stressful and more pleasant… Even if you are not necessarily “friends” with everyone, you want to be on good terms with your co-workers. When you get along with your department, chemistry and communication become far easier to develop. For practical and personal reasons, friendships in healthcare are irreplaceable.

How Do I Make Friends in Healthcare?

Whether you are a rookie or a natural introvert, we all start somewhere. If you want to make friends and put yourself out there, then you have to take advantage of the opportunities available to you:

Introduce Yourself

A good first impression is invaluable. Co-workers naturally want to get to know you better, if you start things off on the right foot. Like with most things, the little things matter. If you are new to your workplace, you want to introduce yourself to your new team members one by one. Breaking the ice and building a repertoire takes time. Make an effort to converse with them, and ask work-related questions to facilitate a natural two-way conversation. Good questions along this vein include:

● How long have you worked in this facility?
● What is your role in this facility?
● How would you describe the culture?

Be a Good Listener

People want to feel valued. We naturally prefer talking to people who are interested in our feelings, and what we have to say. This is why being a good listener is invaluable when it comes to building friendships. When someone is talking, you want to provide your undivided attention as they speak. Reflect on the points they bring up and ask for clarifications, to show them that you are listening. Give them honest feedback, and pay attention to nonverbal cues to determine when to speak. You want to strike a balance between offering your insights and giving them the space to express themselves.

Join Social Gatherings

Instead of turning down an invite from a co-worker, why not accept one and see where it takes you? They want to know you better, by spending time with you outside work. This could be a movie night, a party, or even a beach gathering. This could be the chance you needed to break the ice. This goes both ways too. If you have built a rapport with someone, do not hesitate to invite them for some lunch or coffee during your break time. In general, a lunch break is an organic way to spend time with co-workers you are interested in.

Be Yourself

In time, friendships will form. You will gravitate towards the people and personalities that you are compatible with. As long as you continuously put yourself out there and stick true to yourself, friends in healthcare who genuinely care about you and value your presence will come in time. Be honest about yourself, within reason. Try not to bring up any controversial or confrontational talking points, but be true to yourself on every other front.