When you go to a job interview, the employer is interviewing you, but you’re interviewing the employer, as well. It will give you a glimpse of what it’s like to work there, how employees are treated, and whether it would be a good fit for you. What was it like to work there during COVID-19? This will give you important insight into how the facility responds to a crisis. Here are two key questions for you to ask.
How Did You Provide Leadership?
Jobs in healthcare are incredibly rewarding, but they’re also challenging. It’s important for people in leadership positions to provide employees with everything they need to do their jobs. Were the facility’s leaders committed to making sure physicians and staff are empowered, supported, and equipped with the tools they need to move the facility forward? If not, employees cannot provide the best possible care.
Many facilities, at one time or another, have found personal protective equipment in short supply. Did they do their best to meet the PPE needs of healthcare personnel? Leadership teams should align personal protective equipment guidelines with those of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC). It’s important to remain current on this information; it protects employees, patients, and everyone in the facility.
COVID-19 has caused uncertainty in a variety of ways, including in healthcare. People in leadership roles have had to work through that to ensure that employees knew what to expect. This was essential, so the uncertainty didn’t hinder employees’ workplace engagement. Minimizing uncertainty is always important to empower employees to provide patients with the best possible care, but this is even more important during a time of crisis.
How Did You Provide Support?
Healthcare workers work hard every day, but many have found COVID-19 to be particularly challenging in various ways. How did the facility support employees? Leadership should strive to maintain critical infrastructure and have other support in place for staff during this time. Support can come in many different forms, but it should be responsive to employees’ needs.
For example, many facilities have offered ways to ensure that employees can care for themselves. One health system aimed to provide rapid access to mental health professionals to provide support for personal concerns related to the COVID-19 crisis. This has made it easier for employees to seek help; that kind of support is essential in a time of crisis.
In addition, many healthcare facilities have provided food as often as possible for employees. In many cases, they accepted food donations from licensed, professional food services, or restaurants. This enabled employees to enjoy a meal when they were able to take a break, and it eliminated the need for them to worry about bringing food or finding a place to purchase food at a time when many restaurants are not operational.
What’s Next for You?
At 365 Healthcare Staffing Services, we specialize in the recruitment and placement of healthcare professionals in per diem, travel, and permanent assignments in healthcare facilities across the country. If you have an interview coming up, good luck! If you’re looking for your next assignment, we can help. Call us at 310.436.3650, and let’s get started.
