Healthcare providers: Create New Year’s Resolutions with actionable steps to rekindle your passion for your career!

<p>
  <strong>Yearning for a fresh start?</strong> The new year marks a prime
  opportunity to reflect on where you&rsquo;ve been and chart out where
  you&rsquo;re headed in your career as a healthcare provider.
</p>

<p>
  Over the past few years,
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums/hotjobs?utm_source=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Blog"
    >physicians</a
  >
  and
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums/hotjobs?utm_source=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Blog"
    >advanced practice providers</a
  >
  have faced significant challenges in their careers and the medical field.
  Achieving work-life balance and career satisfaction amidst these difficulties
  can be particularly elusive. But flipping over the calendar from 2023 to 2024
  can be just the impetus you may need &ndash; to get back to loving your
  career!
</p>

<p>
  Statistics show that New Year&rsquo;s resolutions CAN be effective if
  implemented thoughtfully and strategically. (Plus, it just FEELS good to have
  a fresh beginning! Remember being a kid at the start of a school year:
  organizing your school supplies, getting new teachers, meeting more friends,
  starting over with your grades?).
</p>

<p>
  According to a 2023
  <a
    href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/467696/seven-americans-likely-set-goals-2023.aspx"
    target="_blank"
    >Gallup survey</a
  >:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    71% of U.S. adults planned to set goals for themselves at the start of the
    new year.
  </li>
  <li>48% of goal-setters say they planned to write their goals down.</li>
  <li>49% intended to create action plans with steps for their goals.</li>
</ul>

<p>
  Will you set goals this year? Do you plan to write your goals down? What about
  creating an action plan for each of your goals?
</p>

<p>
  <strong>&ldquo;Goals without action are just dreams.&rdquo;</strong> &ndash;
  Anonymous
</p>

<h2>Setting Actionable Career Goals for the New Year</h2>

<h3>Step 1 - THE PROBLEM: Identify challenges about your current job.</h3>

<p>
  An easy way to generate actionable career goals for the new year is to start
  with your problems! Make a list of everything you wish were better about your
  current job. Leave plenty of space after each item, maybe half a page to a
  page for each. You&rsquo;ll use this list to reframe each issue, set goals and
  break those down into actions. The solution might involve changing your
  schedule, your mindset, or even your job &ndash; but for now, focus only on
  scribbling out a list of what&rsquo;s making you &nbsp;rethink your current
  situation.
</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s an example of a statement of the problem:</p>

<p>
  <strong
    >I have lost the passion and interest I had early in my career as a
    physician.</strong
  >
</p>

<p>And here are some questions to get you started:</p>

<ul>
  <li>Do you have to battle traffic each day?</li>
  <li>Do you feel fulfilled in your job?</li>
  <li>Do you like the people you work with?</li>
  <li>
    Do you enjoy caring for the particular patient population you work with?
  </li>
  <li>Does your work schedule fit your lifestyle?</li>
  <li>Do you have opportunities for learning and growth?</li>
  <li>Do you want to move into leadership?</li>
  <li>Is your care team collaborative? Do they communicate well?</li>
  <li>Do you like the facility?</li>
  <li>
    Do you think the organizational culture is accepting, respectful and
    supportive?
  </li>
  <li>Do you think patients are treated well there?</li>
  <li>Is it too fast-paced or slow-paced for you?</li>
  <li>How is patient volume?</li>
  <li>Do you like the specialty you work in?</li>
  <li>Do you ever feel overworked or burned out?</li>
  <li>Is the compensation competitive?</li>
  <li>Are there enough staff at the organization?</li>
  <li>Are other clinical employees satisfied?</li>
  <li>Are the non-clinical employees satisfied?</li>
  <li>Do you have the technology and tools you need?</li>
  <li>Do you face administrative burdens (EHR, billing, records, etc.)?</li>
  <li>Do you have enough autonomy?</li>
  <li>Do you have enough support?</li>
</ul>

<h3>
  Step 2: THE SOLUTION: Identify the flipside and what it would take to get
  there.
</h3>

<p>
  Next, revisit each item on the list and identify the flipside &ndash;
  what&rsquo;s the solution to the problem? What would bring you career
  satisfaction regarding the issue? Then, consider each of your options and
  write a note in parenthesis about whether it&rsquo;s feasible.
</p>

<p>
  For example, say you&rsquo;re a physician who has lost passion for general
  practice, you could write:
</p>

<p><strong>To find greater career satisfaction, I could:</strong></p>

<ul>
  <li>
    Look for a new job in general practice (I might still be underwhelmed
    though)
  </li>
  <li>
    Ask to be transferred to a different facility (if the facility you are
    working with has multiple locations)
  </li>
  <li>
    Consider Locum Tenens if have been in a permanent role or a permanent role
    if you have been working Locums
  </li>
</ul>

<h3>Step 3: THE RESOLUTION: Identify your specific goal for the new year.</h3>

<p>
  Next, write a New Year&rsquo;s Resolution for the issue. It can be helpful to
  use the format: In ____, I will________ by ____________.
</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<p>
  <strong
    >In 2024, I will rekindle my passion for being a physician by pursuing a
    role in a different facility.</strong
  >
</p>

<h3>
  Step 4: THE ACTION: Identify the steps you&rsquo;ll need to take to reach your
  goal.
</h3>

<p>
  Finally, take the time to think through and write out the steps to make it
  happen.
</p>

<ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
  <li>Research Locums or Perm Roles</li>
  <li>Decide where you want to work</li>
  <li>Gather all documentation</li>
  <li>Apply</li>
  <li>Take it from there!</li>
</ol>

<h2>Examples of New Year&rsquo;s Resolutions for Healthcare Providers</h2>

<p>
  Here are a few examples outlining the problem, the solution, the resolution
  and the action for each goal:
</p>

<table
  border="0"
  cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0"
  style="width: 100%;padding: 0px"
>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE PROBLEM:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <div>
          I loathe sitting in traffic for 1-1.5 hours commuting to work each
          day.
        </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE SOLUTION:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <div>To have a better work commute, I can:</div>

        <ul>
          <li>Find a different job (but I like my job)</li>
          <li>Move closer to work (too expensive)</li>
          <li>Carpool</li>
          <li>
            Ride the metro, train or bus (doesn&rsquo;t stop close by, takes
            even more time)
          </li>
          <li>Listen to podcasts, audiobooks, etc.</li>
        </ul>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE RESOLUTION:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <div>
          In 2024, I&rsquo;m going improve my work commute by carpooling and by
          listening to podcasts and audiobooks to relieve stress when I have to
          drive alone.
        </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE ACTION:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
          <li>Post a note in breakroom to see if anyone wants to carpool.</li>
          <li>
            See if HR has a source to communicate about ridesharing
            opportunities.
          </li>
          <li>Research and load podcasts for solo driving days.</li>
          <li>Check out audiobooks from the library and load on my phone.</li>
        </ol>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<table
  border="0"
  cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0"
  style="width: 100%;padding: 0px"
>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE PROBLEM:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <div>
          My job is way too stressful. I am overworked and there are not enough
          staff to meet the patient needs.
        </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE SOLUTION:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <div>
          To have a less stressful experience with a balanced workload and
          better schedule, I can:
        </div>

        <ul>
          <li>
            Talk to my supervisor about hiring more staff (did that,
            didn&rsquo;t work)
          </li>
          <li>Ask for a more bearable schedule (have tried again and again)</li>
          <li>
            Accept it (be grateful I have a job, try to find more ways to cope)
          </li>
          <li>Look for something else on my own (too busy!)</li>
          <li>Reach out to a recruiter (yes!)</li>
        </ul>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE RESOLUTION:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <div>
          In 2024, I&rsquo;m going to find a new job with better hours, a
          reasonable workload and much less stress.
        </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="width:30%;">
        <div>THE ACTION:</div>
      </td>
      <td style="width:70%;">
        <ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
          <li>Research healthcare recruiters online.</li>
          <li>
            Ask friends outside of work if they&rsquo;ve used a recruiter.
          </li>
          <li>Get my paperwork and files in order to apply for a new job.</li>
          <li>Brainstorm my wants and needs in a new job.</li>
          <li>Reach out and set up an appointment with a recruiter.</li>
          <li>See how it goes!</li>
        </ol>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<h2>Ready for a New Start in 2024?</h2>

<p>
  If you&rsquo;ve decided your New Year&rsquo;s resolution is a new job,
  you&rsquo;re in the right place. Your Cross Country Locums recruiter will help
  you find a position to fit your preferences regarding location, patient
  population, practice setting, schedule, clinical interests, and much more.
</p>

<p><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums">Get started</a>.</p>


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2024 New Year's Resolutions for Healthcare Providers

2024 New Years Resolutions for Healthcare Providers

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