Working in healthcare might be rewarding in an altruistic way. You feel good about helping other people in their time of need. But it's ok if a healthcare job is also more personally rewarding. You can think about the opportunities it offers you to develop a career and potentially earn more money too. Upskilling is often an excellent way to do this, allowing you to advance within your career by building in-demand skills. It can range from learning the most basic and essential skills to looking for ways to develop a specialized range of skills and knowledge. You could take a few different paths to upskilling, depending on how you're interested in developing yourself and your career.

Get Certified in Basic Life Support

Many employers will require healthcare workers to have certain qualifications and certifications to fulfill their roles. BLS certification is one of the most commonly asked for, so it can truly benefit healthcare workers to obtain it and keep it up to date. So what is BLS certification? BLS stands for "basic life support" and is a type of care delivered to people when they are in cardiac arrest, experiencing respiratory distress, or have a blocked airway. When obtaining certification, you will learn skills such as CPR and using a defibrillator. Whether you're at the beginning of your career or looking to take the next step, it can help you go further.

Understand a Specific Type of Patient

You can work with all types of patients as a healthcare worker. They may come from all walks of life, including different ages, cultural backgrounds, and health conditions. If you're looking to upskill, one thing you could consider doing is focusing on a specific population. This allows you to develop your knowledge of a particular area, instead of just having a more general set of skills. Employers often appreciate more specialized skills and knowledge, so it could open more doors for you. Perhaps you want to learn more about working with children or the elderly, or you want to take the time to understand patients with diabetes.

Learn How to Use New Technologies

Technology is always evolving, and the healthcare industry is no exception. With the introduction of new technologies all the time, it's important to keep up with which tools are being used. Employers will often ensure their employees receive the right training when new technology is being introduced to their workplace. But you can miss out if you don't get the opportunity to learn tech as it's becoming more standard within your field. Sometimes it may be necessary to pursue certain certifications or tech education yourself. Fortunately, it's often easy to do by taking an online course, so you can learn in your own time.

Enhance Your Leadership Skills

The best way to advance in a career is often to start taking on management responsibilities. Developing your leadership skills could be a great opportunity to start doing more in your current role or it could be the key to opening up new jobs you can apply to. If you want to be a better leader, you might be able to find ways to learn the necessary skills at work. Alternatively, there are various training programs and courses that you could consider. You don't necessarily need any formal qualifications, especially as there are plenty of resources to help you learn, from online courses to books and podcasts.

Choose to Specialize

Having a broad range of general skills is often essential when you work in a healthcare role. But if you're looking for higher-paying jobs and better opportunities, it's often better to specialize. For example, an anesthetic nurse can earn a lot more than a standard RN. There could be various ways for you to specialize, depending on what you do now. You could focus on a specific department, function or medical condition within healthcare. Highly specialized skills can be very valuable if they're in demand and you're one of the few people who has the necessary knowledge.

Attend Conferences and Seminars

Many healthcare workers are required to complete continued education units (CEUs) to maintain their licensing and keep their skills and knowledge up to date. One of the ways you might collect the credits you need for CEUs is by attending events such as conferences and seminars, whether in-person or online, where you can learn new things. These events can help you keep up with the latest best practices, learn about the current trends, and generally ensure your knowledge is up to date. It's important for healthcare professionals to continue learning at all times so they're always able to deliver the best standards of care.

Get Licensed in Multiple Locations

Another way you might consider upskilling as a healthcare worker is by getting your license in more than one state. You might think this is unnecessary if you currently work in one state, but it could be a good opportunity to open up new avenues in your career. If you want to find a new job and have the flexibility of moving to a new state, it can make sense to have pursued the right license beforehand. The process to obtain a license can be long, and you don't want to have to wait around when you're looking for a new job. Consider the states you might be interested in, or those that offer more job opportunities, and whether obtaining a local license could be right for you.

Speak to Your Employer

There are many ways you can be a self-starter and seek chances to study and learn new things. But you don't always have to do it alone. Your employer should be interested in helping you upskill too. It benefits them because it means their employees have the skills they need to keep up in a constantly evolving industry. Ask your employer about training opportunities they offer or about funding for something that you're interested in pursuing.

Upskilling could unlock new paths in your career. Consider how you can improve your skills to future-proof your career in healthcare.

Smart Ways Healthcare Workers Can Upskill To Enhance Their Career