A medical clinic is as strong as its team of doctors, nurses, technicians and other staff.
Employee turnover has always been high in the healthcare industry and the challenges of the past few years have only exacerbated the issue. In fact, it’s estimated that there will be a deficit of 900,000 nurses in the U.S. by 2023.
There’s no easy solution to this issue, but there are a few things dialysis clinics can do to help recruit, train and retain top talent.
Start with Recruitment
Whether the position is for a nephrology nurse, a dialysis technician or any other role that supports the nearly 570,000 Americans who are on dialysis, success on the job starts with recruitment.
Beyond making a job more competitive through compensation or other perks, ensuring that the job expectations are clear from the beginning can help avoid mismatched expectations down the line.
When welcoming new talent to the team, it’s beneficial to recruit staff with diverse backgrounds and experience levels. This will also help with the next step: mentorship.
Training: The Importance of Mentorship
Dialysis clinic training consists of two separate, but essential components.
First, formal training makes sure staff are up-to-date on the latest best practices and protocols. This can include processes specific to the clinic, continued education and certifications relevant to the field.
It may also include training on how to use tools and technology like, for example, Transonic’s HD03 Monitor that supports on-the-spot vascular access assessments to optimize treatment for dialysis patients.
Second, but of equal importance, is mentorship.
Fostering mentorship in the workplace brings significant benefits to all involved. Doing so can involve setting up a formal mentorship program that equips natural leaders with tools they need to support others, for instance. It can mean encouraging peer-to-peer mentoring activities or, in some instances, involve hosting mentoring events.
A strong culture of mentoring at a dialysis clinic not only expands the skill set of those who work there, but it can also help retain staff because it creates a better workplace environment.
Retaining Top Talent
A workplace that recognizes and rewards employees for their contributions not only helps motivate good performance, but creates an environment that encourages staff to stay. Likewise, providing opportunities to grow and learn can help keep staff who otherwise would have moved on for career advancement reasons.
Other ways to retain nephrology nurses and dialysis technicians include:
- Limit the burden of administrative tasks, so they focus on patient care
- Emphasize workplace safety
- Improve the technology and tools that support staff with their day-to-day work
- Acknowledge and address burnout
- Provide adequate staffing and scheduling
Transonic Tools for Kidney Care Professionals
Wondering if your dialysis clinic could benefit from flow measurement tools that support kidney care professionals and help create a better working environment?
Transonic’s HD03 Hemodialysis Monitor is a stand-alone device that measures delivered flow, recirculation, and vascular access flow during hemodialysis, giving healthcare staff the data they need to optimize treatment.
