Secure Your NP Job With Tech Savvy
Don't underestimate the value of being "tech savvy" when seeking a new job or ensuring security in your current position. My 20-something son made a comment the other day that caught my attention. He said, "It's really noticeable how my generation adapts and uses technology so much easier and faster," and he related a story of assisting a supervisor struggling to complete a task online, a task that to my son seemed almost second nature.
That's not to say that it's always the younger folks that master the tech toys. I consider myself to be very computer literate and would be lost without my "gadgets." However, among those of us who are *ahem* "of a certain age," there does seem to be greater resistance (or maybe suspicion?) when it comes to embracing all things digital. Are you one of these people?
Take an honest look at yourself, because if you are slow to climb aboard the digital bandwagon it could be hurting your career. NPs who are less than proficient with their computer skills are risking losing their competitive edge. Whether we like it or not, EMRs are here to stay. We are living in the information age, resources are now either online or in a handheld PDA rather than on a bookshelf. Radiology now sends x-rays to me in a digital format ONLY. The provider who can quickly access and manage information digitally is going to be perceived as more valuable to the team.
Don't be that person who stresses the support staff because you are not independent or confident in your computer skills. Take a class (online or locally), get some training CDs or DVDs, and learn all you can about SEVERAL types of computer programs. Push your limits but don't forget to learn the standards like Word and Excel. Understand the lingo, know the difference between a .doc and a .pdf. Get comfortable with Google and the other search engines.
You can do it! We're smart people, after all we wrote a THESIS, we have a master's degree and we once had to memorize the Krebs cycle. In comparison this should be a walk in the park.