While any locum tenens job is fast-paced in nature, there are certain qualities that set average providers apart from superior ones. As a locum tenens physician, demonstrating a positive bedside manner can be instrumental in connecting with patients and building a strong sense of trust throughout the duration of their care. Even though locum tenens assignments are temporary, exhibiting a positive bedside manner is one of the best ways to get the most out of your time at a healthcare facility and make an impact on patients in need. Here are some tips for how you can improve your bedside manner during your locum tenens assignments:
Pay attention to patients’ families. Because of the extensive time spent with patients, it’s often easy to forget about what patients’ families are going through. You can significantly improve their experience and patients’ quality of care by introducing yourself to patients’ relatives and developing a positive rapport with them. Remember, family members may be enduring more emotions and anxiety than patients themselves. Being proactive about communicating with families will help to alleviate their stress, making them feel more comfortable throughout this difficult time.
Practice mindfulness on the job. With “mindfulness” becoming a major buzzword these days, you may have dismissed how powerful being mindful can be on the job. However, practicing mindfulness is critical to truly understanding patients’ needs and being a provider whom they can personally trust to address their medical concerns. Engaging in active listening techniques and paying attention to patients’ emotions will allow you to tailor care around their individual needs.
Improve your emotional intelligence. No matter how many years you’ve been a practicing physician, there’s always room to improve your emotional intelligence – especially during your interactions with patients. In a medical setting, a high degree of emotional intelligence is reflected through an ability to empathize with patients and offer them reassurance throughout the course of their care. To improve your emotional intelligence, you’ll want to focus on the ways in which you communicate with patients – focusing heavily on your verbal and non-verbal communication. Becoming more in tuned to enhancing your emotional intelligence skills will ultimately create better relationships between you and your patients.
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