What You Can Learn from New Healthcare Grads

Michele Warg
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As new graduates enter the workforce, they will be taking healthcare jobs that have changed considerably over the past several decades. While nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals used to spend much of their time writing notes by hand and searching through paper files to find needed information, today's new graduates will never know what that was like. Because the healthcare programs of today emphasize the use of technology and other important skills, even experienced healthcare professionals can learn from those who have recently graduated.

 

One thing you can learn from recent graduates is the importance of linking costs and patient outcomes. Approximately ten years ago, many patients really had no idea how much healthcare services cost. As a result, there was no way to link the cost of such services with the quality of the services. Now that this information is available online, patients and healthcare providers can link the two metrics. New physicians and nurses know the importance of controlling costs and ensuring that patients receive quality services for the money they pay, which is something you should be concerned about as a health professional.

 

Recent graduates often have a great deal of technical knowledge, especially if they majored in healthcare administration or a related subject. Younger workers can teach experienced workers about the importance of using technology for healthcare jobs. Mobile technology makes it possible for healthcare professionals to look up the costs of medications, calculate drug dosages, communicate with specialists in other countries, and share information about patients. In the United States, the National Institutes of Health have even been funding projects to determine the impact of mobile technology on patient care. Because changes in technology have affected all healthcare jobs, it is important for experienced workers to learn new skills in this area.

 

Recent graduates can also teach experienced healthcare workers the importance of diversity. Many of today's graduates grew up with people of other races, colors, and ethnicities, but that was not as common for members of older generations. Cultural knowledge and awareness have been identified as important traits for nurses and other healthcare workers, so it is important for experienced workers to learn from younger workers when it comes to issues of tolerance and acceptance. Success in any healthcare job also demands the ability to consider cultural differences when conducting patient assessments. For example, members of some cultures eat certain foods that may contribute to an increased risk of hypertension or other chronic conditions.

 

Working with recent graduates gives healthcare professionals the opportunity to bridge the generational gap, but it takes hard work on both sides of that gap. Older workers must be open to learning about technology, diversity, and finance, while younger workers must be open to learning from experienced workers who have held healthcare jobs for several decades.

 

(Photo courtesy of stockimages / freedigitalphotos.net)

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  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Juanita, thanks for sharing. I'm sure that older workers like yourself have learned to view the whole person when giving care, rather than stereotyping people because of their race, gender or even clothing style. Real nurses look for how they can help before anything else. Still, there are a few things that anyone can learn from younger, more enthusiastic workers.
  • Juanita M
    Juanita M
    I too, take offense to the tone of this article. The items pointed out that can be "taught" to oldtimes are almost insulting I.e. "Older workers must be open to learning about technology, diversity, and finance.." Excuse me? but older works have grown with the technology.  As far as diversity is concerned...all apart of the job and no biggie..you give care to a person no matter the cultural difference because that is what REAL nurses are born to do...FINANCE? We have lived through and survived while the boys with the pencils have experimented with ways to lower patient costs and increase shareholders profits.  Give me a break.  Over all I find this article insulting.  All of the things you mentioned in this articles is not news to us oldies. I have never found much to be learned from new grads except how to whine louder about doing REAL patient care.
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Thanks, Cara! These new healthcare graduates are proving to be a huge resource for the industry. They are eager and enthusiastic as well as providing new skills.
  • Cara L
    Cara L
    And don't forget, many older people are going back to school and getting degrees in healthcare related fields.  These graduates also can contribute valuable work ethic and experience to prospective employers as well as offering new skills in medical technology and education.
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Wow! What a great discussion!@Dale - I think that is becoming the norm in so many different industries. The focus changed to things that can be measured, and unfortunately, soft skills aren't as easily counted as numbers. What do you think could be done to allow for great patient treatment while still meeting number goals?@Barb - Nursing is an art and no matter what technological advances may change the way that care is given, good nurses will always be needed. @Lu Ann - You have such a great attitude. Technology can be a great tool in the hands of a skilled nurse.@Virginia - You're right, it's not about age, it's about being new to the field and having a fresh outlook.
  • Dale H
    Dale H
    What I am seeing in healthcare is the reliance upon numbers with almost total disregard of patient outcomes. It is sad that business and computer technology has become more important than the humanistic side of caring for patients.
  • Barb S
    Barb S
    I think that you are overstating the importance of technical knowledge but what about patient care?  New nurses often have no idea what that is.  I mourn the loss of nursing as it used to be, about the patient and the reward it gave us as nurses.  Now it is all about technology and the good reviews patients will or will not give.  
  • Lu Ann N
    Lu Ann N
    Actually, the hospitals have done a great job in bringing us "old-timers" up to date by educating us on different cultures and diversities ie some cultures like you to look them in the eye & other cultures find that an insult.  We have moved into an automated age in medical records and it helps us deliver patient care quickly & accurately.  Computers have made our job much easier and the patient help care much better.  I think you will find that we are pretty up to date even if we have been doing  this job for decades.  It all flows better with teamwork.  We can all learn from each other!
  • Virginia P
    Virginia P
    Your article assumes that New Grads are "young", or at least,"younger" than current "older" workers. I am a New Grad current in technology and health care changes AND I am "older" (yes over 50 yrs old).  Many New Grads are mature workers seeking a career change. Please don't stereotype us. Many HCP are stuck in their routine; not seeking continuing education nor enrichment.  It has nothing to do with age, and everything to do with complacency.  Never stop learning.
  • elizabeth U
    elizabeth U
    give me a break, younger workers are just a way for the industry to scale down pay ,so the CEO's  can keep their seven figure salaries. Just because we went to school before the beginning of the computer age does not make us unable to feel cultural differences. We are human, even if older and I take offense to the tone of this article.
  • Judith W
    Judith W
    Ive been a nurse for 46 years. It is still very important for patients to receive good patient care. many new grads are only interested in their salaries instead of compassion for the patients and their disease processes. Some choose healthcare without altrusism.
  • Tyler B
    Tyler B
    i will be able to adress my school with an open mind
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