When summer hits, you may feel the temptation to slack off a bit and take a vacation from school, work, and even the job hunt. In spite of those feelings, summer can be the best time to find a perfect medical job that will carry you into the fall and even into a promising future. The summer job market is full of opportunities as companies have settled into their routine and know their staffing needs in a clear way. Current teams have identified their strengths and the gaps are obvious so the job search can be in favor of the candidates during the summer searching times. If you are on the market for a new job, consider putting in applications before the rush of summer but even if you missed that time frame, it’s never too late to send out your resume to companies or even to work with a staffing agency to find a perfect new position.

What to Look for in a New Job?

The summer may be warm but the job market in some cities is even warmer. Not only can you find a job that meets your salary expectations but also one where you can make a difference in the life of your patients. A summer medical job can have various components, making it an ideal position for those who are qualified. Here are some things to look for in a summer job:

1. Consistency. When you need steady work, a staffing firm may have just the right positions for you. You won’t need to keep applying to new jobs as you will be in their system and as summer medical jobs become available, they can present you to the potential employers.
2. Flexibility. With summer jobs often comes the ability to have a more flexible schedule. As patients take vacations, days off, and even spend time away from their homes, you may have the ability to work with other patients or to even have downtime for yourself.
3. Location. Have you ever considered taking medical jobs that require travel? A perk of the traveling medical jobs is you will have chance to see various parts of the country. It can be a fun way to sightsee while earning a living at the same time. You could have an adventure each and every summer with a new medical job that requires travel to provide care.
4. Permanent. Some of the summer jobs turn into full-time jobs after the three months and you could start the fall season with a permanent medical job. For those who may just be starting out in the medical field, a summer medical job is a smart way to learn, work with professionals, and work with real patients.

Your summer medical job can be the launching pad for a new career or even as a way to get your “foot in the door” at a new facility while still maintaining a steady job. While others are on vacation, take some time in the summer to further your education and apply for summer medical jobs that will take your career to the next level.

Your teams work hard on a daily basis and while they receive time off during their monthly schedules and even downtime sometimes during their shifts, they may be overworked. Do you know how to spot a team member that is overworked? Catching this problem before it becomes something serious is critical to the overall success of your team. Not only does this show your care and concern for the team but it will help the entire facility work more efficiently when each team member is performing at their peak and not tired or overloaded.

How to Determine Overwhelmed Staff

It may seem like a simple task: to see who is frazzled on your teams and give them some time off. After all, you can look at people and see if they are overworked, right? It is not necessarily easy to see those who need a break and those in the medical field are usually adept at hiding weakness as their job requires great amounts of strength and personal fortitude. Here are some tell-tale signs your staff may be overworked:

1. They forget small things. While everyone can be forgetful at times, the staff member who is constantly forgetting to sign a document or clean a medical device may not be completely aware of their surroundings due to their mind racing in various directions. This can be caused by being pulled in too many directions or having tasks that cannot be completed and they are causing a distraction.
2. They are short tempered. In stressful times, this is common within teams. Everyone begins to feel the strain but after the crisis is cared for, the team members will take a deep breath and return to their professional attitudes and workplace friendliness. The problem occurs when team members are constantly short with others and give the appearance of rudeness.
3. They make mistakes. Because the medical field is fluid and things are constantly moving, mistakes are made as human error is always present. A team member who is overworked will make small mistakes and big mistakes, mistakes they shouldn’t be making at this point in their careers.
4. They are sick. When those on your team are constantly feeling ill or leaving early for doctor’s appointments, you may have a staff member who is overworked. This can affect their health in a negative way and many times it will manifest in a variety of illnesses.

Medical staff members are accustomed to high stress and expected levels of perfection but this can be draining. If your team doesn’t take off the necessary time for vacation and personal days, they may be overworked or if you are constantly short-staffed, they may be feeling the overload. Give them some time off or hire more people to lighten their load. Consider using a staffing firm to help with the workload until you can financially hire them on full-time or until you have established a true need for their employment.

Say the word “boss” to a group of people and their minds will conjure up an image of someone they worked for in the past or maybe their present boss. Now say the word “leader” and more often than not, a different image will pop up in their heads; perhaps a world leader or someone who fought for change and progress but not someone who simply barked out orders and punched a clock. These two words will bring up different things for each person but there is usually a distinction and it is usually associated with a positive or negative feeling. If you are a manager, how do you lead your team in a positive way instead of just bossing around your medical staff?

Leaders Lead by Example

A boss is someone who is in charge of a situation or a group of people and they are placed in that position because they are the most qualified or they were at the right place at the right time. The boss is usually perceived as someone who won’t get their hands dirty, that’s why they have employees under them to do all the work. There are exceptions to every situation but bosses are rarely seen as motivating factors in a workplace or even inspirational factors in a person’s life but a leader will make a lasting impression in the lives of those around them.  Bosses can become great leaders and take their organization to the next level by understanding these 3 factors:

1. Leaders aren’t afraid of hard work. They will work tirelessly until the job is done and they are unconcerned with receiving any credit for their work. They are working towards the good of the whole, not just their own well-being.
2. Leaders will build up their team rather than tear them down. Even when a team member is headed in the wrong direction, a good leader can help to redirect them in a more positive way without the other person feeling inferior or singled out. Leaders know how to work with people to bring out their best and strive on a daily basis to edify rather than discourage.
3. Leaders know when to push forward and when to stop. Some projects and some situations will warrant a push, in spite of obvious struggles, while others will require the team to move on to something more productive. This can happen in the healthcare field frequently as laws change and regulations require new adherence and facilities may need to shift their focus or specialty.

Leaders are those who inspire from within their team, not out of fear but because of the respect they have earned from those around them. While a boss can be trained to do their job, a leader has innate qualities that can be developed but rarely taught. Most leaders will have their own source of inspiration that has brought them to their current career path.

Now that the days are longer and the heat of summer can be felt, finding the work-life balance can be even more difficult. After all, there are so many fun activities during the summer and it’s usually the time of year when families can travel to see one another, but if you’re not careful, managing it all can leave you feeling worn out. There are several things you should remember as you punch the clock on a daily basis to avoid that feeling of burn out.

1. There are still only 24 hours in a day. Just because it stays light outside longer, doesn’t mean you have to find more work to do. It’s a common problem among people who are prone to overworking to see the light outside their windows and feel the urge to keep up the fast pace. The time could be late in the evening but because the sun is still shining, they will feel the need to continue working.
2. Take a vacation. It is a great time of year for travel deals and even local attractions offer package deals for residents, so take advantage of your accumulated days off and get-away. Planning ahead for a fun trip can be just the right tool for staying motivated but also being able to scale back while you’re away.
3. Stay away from distractions. It is important to stay focused, even in the summer. You may find yourself more easily distracted as there is usually more going on during these months. Recharge with people you truly care about, not just acquaintances who want to benefit from your relationship. They will suck the life out of you and can be a drain on every aspect of your life.
4. Don’t give up on your routine. Things may happen in the summer that are out of the ordinary; you may have family visiting from out of town or the kids may be home from school during the days but do your best to stay in a routine. This means not neglecting your work-outs, meditation time or other quiet time, or getting into an unhealthy eating pattern. The routine you establish throughout the year carries you on a daily basis and it is helpful during the summer months as well. You may need to modify it slightly but tossing it to the wind will not be helpful to you in the long run.

As summer comes and goes, it is important to stick with your goals and resolutions that you’ve set for the year. It is an easy time to get distracted and either work or play too much and both can be detrimental to your overall success.

Looking to Hire Additional Staff in 2014?
Contact the experienced recruiters at Pinnacle Workforce Corporation for additional information on how a partnership with our team can positively impact yours!