Nurse Anesthetists practicing in the United States are required to be certified and then recertified at intervals throughout their career. The recertification process is an opportunity for leaders to connect one on one with each member of their team, ensure that the person is qualified for recertification and improve employee engagement.
Management literature is filled with articles about the advantages of employee engagement and corporations pay millions of dollars every year on programs for improving it. Very similar to other types of employment when it comes to the advantages of engagement, healthcare organizations depend upon effective leadership within the organization to inspire and motivate employees. Among the advantages of having an engaged staff are the following:
- Improved Safety Engaged factory workers are up to 5X less likely to be injured on the job. In healthcare not only are the workers less likely to be injured but they are less likely to make mistakes that injure others, including patients.
- Improved health Engaged employees are less stressed, more relaxed in their interactions with others and are less likely to miss work due to illness.
- Improved happiness Engaged employees look forward to coming to work and interacting with co-workers who they are more likely to view as friends.
- Improved Performance Engaged employees tend to be more creative, have a better attitude and work at a higher level. Their high-end work is more likely to be reflected in a salary bonus than that of a less productive peer.
- Improved sense of community Engaged employees tend to have the backs of their co-workers which is reflected in increased safety for the entire unit.
- Improved retention Engaged employees are easier to retain. Costs of recruiting, hiring and orienting new employees can be significant and employee engagement saves time and money for the organization.
Although many crash courses and gimmicks exist to improve employee engagement, the one piece that is essential for success is a trusting one on one relationship between the employee and the supervisor. Whether you are the leader or the employee, developing the relationship is foundational to being a workplace of choice.
For several decades the Gallup organization has worked with employers to survey their workforce, assess engagement and make recommendations for improvement. The current Gallup engagement survey has been refined to 12 essential questions which give an accurate estimate of employee engagement. Three of the 12 can be addressed when the proactive leader uses recertification as an opportunity to connect individually with the employee.
- Question 6 Is there someone at work who encourages your development?
- Question 11 In the last 6 months has someone at work talked to you about your progress?
- Question 12 In the last year have you been given opportunities to learn and grow?
The recertification process is a gold mine for the proactive leader committed to building a fully engaged team. Schedule a private, face to face meeting with each member of your team and discuss the following:
- Determine eligibility for recertification Whether the person recertifies this year or is mid cycle, determine where they are in obtaining the required continuing education.
- Review the professional education that the person has received over the past two years. Discuss ways in which they can share their knowledge with the group.
- Plan professional education for the next two years. Make note of any special interest that the person may have and discuss ways in which developing the interest will benefit the group.
- Explore enrichment opportunities beyond the required continuing education. Many organizations offer in-house learning opportunities that do not award continuing education credit. Discuss ways in which the individual can pursue interests and grow professionally regardless of the credit that is awarded.
Elevate your leadership by connecting with your team and motivating them to grow professionally. By encouraging team members to enhance their individual skills, you will address issues that have been identified as essential by the Gallup survey and you will improve the engagement of your team. Savvy leaders don’t wait for a stroke of luck to elevate the status of the team. A highly effective leader connects and engages with each individual by making use of a great opportunity like recertification.
Watch for the release of Tom’s book, Leader Reader 1, Authentic Healthcare Leadership scheduled for release on Amazon Books March 15, 2017