Currently, the healthcare sector is dealing with the after-shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to pay close attention to healthcare workers in times like these and analyze their performance. Moreover, it is best to consider the post-pandemic era an ideal time to upskill or reskill those employees.

Many healthcare organizations make the mistake of taking additional work from employees without training them for it. They have this assumption that their employees can perform critical jobs without enhancing their current skill set. Such a mindset or belief is highly unfair to both the employees and the organization.

Every sector has experienced some significant changes post-pandemic, especially the healthcare sector. Therefore, how can we assume that healthcare employees do not need to get upskilled or reskilled? Indeed, many healthcare organizations laid off many employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the times have changed, and the healthcare sector is recovering gradually. In this scenario, it is viable to invest in an efficient workforce instead of hiring new workers.

Now the main question is whether upskilling is better for healthcare workers or reskilling? Let’s start by discussing the differences between these two terms.

Upskilling vs. Reskilling 

The major difference between upskilling and reskilling is that upskilling helps workers learn additional skills to perform their jobs better. Through upskilling, employees expand their “existing skillset” and discover efficient ways to carry out daily tasks. In comparison, reskilling happens when an employee learns “new or different skills” to perform a new job. Reskilling involves a career change as the employees get to know something completely different from their current position.

Given the rise in the trend in healthcare organizations focusing on upskilling or reskilling their workers, many are urging them to opt for higher learning programs. Such programs, especially the online ones, allow healthcare workers to upskill or reskill at their preferred pace. Hence, whether you seek to advance in your current healthcare occupation or are striving for diverse healthcare fields, eLearning should be your priority. For nurses looking to expand their skillset and climb the ladder to higher positions, online DNP programs will prove highly beneficial. Such programs prepare nurses for leadership roles in the healthcare sector, propelling their careers to new heights.  

Upskilling the healthcare workers

The best thing about upskilling is that the healthcare sector is already accustomed to it. The medical community makes use of this strategy and trains healthcare workers to become more efficient. Take technological advancement as an example, such as an AI-assisted telehealth service. The tasks manually done by the healthcare workers became more straightforward and advanced through this technology. For this reason, healthcare employees needed upskilling to understand the new AI system and effectively use this software. Not only did it help in improving patient care, but the healthcare workers also adopted the new telehealth technology.

Similarly, healthcare workers are always on the lookout to advance in their careers. The opportunity to learn additional skills is what they need right now. They have to adapt and absorb the changes occurring in the healthcare sector, and upskilling helps them accomplish this. Since healthcare workers already have the basic knowledge to perform routine tasks, they need upskilling to become productive. In simpler words, upskilling helps healthcare workers in bridging the talent gap at work.

Reskilling the healthcare workers

Reskilling is beneficial for healthcare workers as they learn a different set of skills for a new job. Over here, they learn new techniques to perform tasks they have not done before. Usually, employers reskill their workers when they do not require their current expertise anymore but still retain them. In this case, they may change the employee’s designation altogether and appoint them for a new role. 

However, learning something completely new is often overwhelming for most of the employees. They are used to performing the usual tasks and feel reluctant to switch in the future. Not just that, but reskilling the healthcare workers comes at a cost. Often, they require extensive training, which can exceed the training costs of an organization. Moreover, finding their replacement for their previous job is time-consuming and slows down the entire chain of command.

Which one is more crucial for healthcare workers?

Healthcare workers need upskilling more than they need to get reskilled. They are a part of the medical field, which expects them to perform their job efficiently. By getting upskilled, healthcare workers can advance their career in healthcare and gain complete control of their designation. Soon, they will become savvy and recognize the importance of improving their medical portfolio through upskilling. Their job will get more manageable, and they will be able to perform multiple tasks at once.

Apart from that, the employers will also benefit from upskilling their healthcare staff. Unlike wasting time and money on reskilling employees and finding replacements, upskilling will make the training process more manageable. With the help of upskilling, employers won’t have to hire any replacements at the cost of losing a useful one. The medical staff’s morale will stay high through upskilling as gaining hands-on experience for their current position is extremely valuable. 

The Bottom Line

While some employers might opt to reskill their employees, most of them will ultimately prioritize upskilling over reskilling. Healthcare workers do not like a complete revamp of their job description, and choosing upskilling will increase their job satisfaction. Therefore, employers should ensure to keep motivating them and expand their current job expertise through upskilling.