The senior care industry is still experiencing extensive staffing shortages. 30 percent of assisted living facilities and 59 percent of nursing homes have reported these staffing shortages as severe enough to disrupt their operations. With this in mind, it’s even more critical that senior care executives consider how they’re supporting and retaining their current employees, while also making sure they’re hiring the right people to fill open positions.
While this should always be the goal of senior care organizations, oversights happen that can derail these initiatives and lead to a number of staffing mistakes. As you look to add top talent to your healthcare staff, it’s important to keep these common mistakes in mind to avoid issues that could compromise company culture and, inevitably, patient care.
Hiring Too Quickly
Nothing good ever comes from a rushed decision. You wouldn’t scramble to complete an important project, so why scramble to make a hiring decision? Not being diligent in your hiring process can lead to negative consequences, ones that will trickle down and affect your entire operations.
If you don’t vet potential hires thoroughly enough, you could end up hiring someone who is underqualified for their position, which could result in neglect or require your other staff to pick up more work. You may also end up hiring someone who isn’t a good fit for your culture, which could result in higher turnover rates. Your patients’ wellbeing is directly impacted by your hiring decisions, as is your employees’ happiness, so make sure you’re being diligent about who you decide to invite into your company.
A Lack of Proper Training
Your senior care facility shouldn’t only offer a thorough onboarding process, but you should prioritize ongoing development and training initiatives for all employees. If any member of your team is not trained properly, it could create an unsafe work environment, upset patients, and spell disaster for the rest of your team.
The healthcare industry is constantly undergoing changes, and failure to keep your staff on top of these changes is dangerous. Healthcare executives realize that their mission depends on the knowledge and development of their employees, no matter what stage of their careers they’re in.
Staff Burnout
Working in healthcare is a stressful job, especially as most facilities navigate staffing shortages and unpredictable outcomes. Over half of the healthcare workforce has reported feeling burnt out so strongly that it’s affecting their jobs and even making them rethink their careers. Healthcare executives must look out for the mental and physical health of their employees. Initiatives like flexible scheduling and more paid time off help to reduce employee absenteeism and improve engagement, productivity, and morale.
The health of your patients and organization depends on the wellness of your employees. Fight back against these common staffing mistakes by vetting new hires, training staff, and implementing protocols to protect your workers’ wellbeing.
