Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Comfy ORs - June 2014 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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STAFFING 2 4 O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J U N E 2 0 1 4 gical tech, but aren't exposed to either position during your workday. If you're thinking about expanding your current skills, take some time during breaks or after hours to find a way to learn from colleagues already in the roles. The effort can pay off. Over the year, I've seen a housekeeper become a materials manager, a surgical tech go to nurs- ing school, an RN go back to school to get her BSN/MSN before becoming an educator in a large hospital system and a lead orthope- dic scrub nurse become the administrator of a freestanding surgery center. Network. Stay in constant contact with professionals you admire or who have the types of careers and positions you aspire to. They might be willing to mentor you or at least provide insights when you face career-defining decisions. Go to national conferences to forge new pro- fessional relationships. Join LinkedIn. When I changed jobs last October, I had no idea how many people used the networking website. I heard from past connec- tions I hadn't seen or spoken to in years. It was welcome and extreme- ly helpful feedback, and very much appreciated. An important caveat: Don't mistake burnout or a few frustrating months as a sign to give up your career in surgery. Reconnect with other healthcare professionals to see if a little perspective will help you rediscover your passion. When I go to the annual OR Excellence conference, for example, I'm re-energized: My peers are happy to be there, learning from experts and continuing their education. Monitor the market. Do you find yourself perusing openings on popular job websites or in healthcare journals? Even if you're not actively looking for a job, staying current on the market is a good way to note where the offers are, which fields need workers and per- 3 4 OSE_1406_part1_Layout 1 6/6/14 3:44 PM Page 24

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