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24-SPEC-371-Blog Time-Saving Clinical Onboarding Tip 02. Blog Image-V2-MD (1)

Time-Saving Clinical Onboarding Tips for Healthcare Leaders

May 3, 2024
May 3, 2024

Where healthcare complexities and the need for quality patient care intersect with healthcare professionals’ well-being, staffing shortages and burnout emerge as critical challenges. Healthcare leaders can navigate these challenges by seeking practical solutions, fostering resilient teams, and ensuring exceptional care. By drawing on professional insights and utilizing time-saving onboarding tips, leaders can implement efficient onboarding practices to help reduce staffing shortages and address burnout.

The Challenges Facing Healthcare Leaders

Burnout and staffing shortages are complicated issues for many healthcare leaders and organizations. Dramatic and lasting changes following the pandemic continue to affect the entire healthcare system. The statistics tell the sobering tale: high turnover rates and healthcare costs strain financial resources and disrupt patient care. Estimates of resignation rates are 20% higher than before the pandemic. Some reports suggest that 30% of healthcare facilities operate below optimal staffing levels.  

Burnout, characterized by chronic emotional and physical exhaustion, is a significant threat to healthcare. The long hours, demands, and emotional energy needed for heavy patient loads contribute to extreme fatigue.  

Nurses leaving their jobs, whether due to retirement or burnout, increases stress on the remaining workers, leading to a trickling effect of increased workload and a decrease in the quality of patient care and outcomes. It’s a continued healthcare crisis, but implementing effective onboarding strategies can help address these challenges.

Time-saving Clinical Onboarding Tips

Before implementing a formal onboarding program, consider these important, time-saving ideas and questions:

  • What is the time frame for the entire onboarding process?
  • How do you want the new hires to feel when they leave at the end of the first day?
  • What information can you provide employees about the facility's culture and work environment?
  • Clearly explain the roles of HR, managers, preceptors, and co-workers in the new employee’s onboarding process.
  • Set specific goals for new employees and create a way to gather consistent feedback.

Implementing strategic action plans will help employees integrate into company policies and workflows while getting acquainted with the organization's culture and environment.

Below are some uncomplicated insights and suggestions for healthcare leaders managing today's challenges during the onboarding process.

Focus on Critical Competencies First

As a healthcare leader, providing new staff members with foundational elements and tools to navigate responsibilities efficiently allows them to build critical competencies. Prioritize essential skills and knowledge base when preparing new hires during the initial onboarding stages. Utilizing this approach builds confidence, streamlines onboarding, and creates space for seamless healthcare team integration.

Implement Structured Preceptor Training Programs

Structured programs like HealthStream’s Preceptor Development are efficient onboarding tools. By standardizing nurse preceptor training modules with video learning, reporting and analytics, performance and engagement, and quality and compliance, these programs save time and ensure consistent preparation for new staff.

Personalize the Processes

Honor healthcare professionals' individuality and learn to differentiate their unique needs and levels of competency. A personalized approach reduces the time spent on irrelevant training while enhancing learners' experiences and overall satisfaction. Understanding people's diverse backgrounds will allow you, as a leader, to create customized onboarding experiences that align with healthcare providers’ skill sets and individual career aspirations.

Leverage Technology for Training

Technology continues to be a valuable asset in the onboarding journey. E-learning platforms and digital tools offer convenient and efficient delivery of training materials. Healthcare leaders and clinical educators can track and manage learning initiatives, allowing new hires to process information at their own pace. Ultimately, these tools save time and cater to specific learning preferences and styles.

Foster a Culture of Continuous Learning

In the ever-changing healthcare landscape, learning extends beyond the initial onboarding phase. Healthcare leaders can contribute to onboarding efficiency by fostering a culture of continued education and staff development within their organizations. Checking in regularly, providing means for evaluations, and offering feedback will encourage continuous learning and should remain priorities even after the initial onboarding process.

Celebrate Milestones and Achievements

Setting up a feedback plan that consistently lets staff know they are appreciated and valued will go a long way in saving time and reducing overwhelm. As new hires progress through the onboarding process and into their new roles, acknowledging their achievements and celebrating their milestones (big and small) will increase satisfaction and become a motivating factor.

Healthcare leaders are allies in addressing burnout and staffing gaps. By leveraging technology, individualizing training, and utilizing structured preceptor programs, you enrich the onboarding journey and provide new hires with the quality, time-saving tools needed to fulfill their roles within the healthcare team.

As organizations move toward a future where the demands on healthcare professionals continue to rise, leaders need engagement and practical approaches. Solutions like HealthStream’s Preceptor Development for clinical onboarding can meet organizations’ needs, contribute to healthcare professionals’ well-being, and improve the quality of patient care delivery and outcomes.

 

References

Godinho, T., Reis, I. P., Carvalho, R., & Martinho, F. (2023). Onboarding handbook: An indispensable tool for onboarding processes. Administrative Sciences, 13(3), 79. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/3/79
Polancich, S., Miltner, R. S., Montgomery, A. P., Dick, T. K., Poe, T., Brown, D., & Patrician, P. A. (2023). Quality matters: Examining the impact of nurse staffing challenges on clinical outcomes. Journal of Healthcare Management, 68(3), 174–186. https://journals.lww.com/jhmonline/abstract/2023/05000/quality_matters__examining_the_impact_of_nurse.5.aspx
Sanders, S. (2024, February 1). Navigating the 2024 healthcare staffing surge. WSi Healthcare Personnel. https://www.wsijobs.com/blog/2024/1/29/navigating-the-2024-healthcare-staffing-surgenbsp