Prepare year-long

Keep your eyes open all year for activities you can list as accomplishments on your review. Taking courses, keeping current with emerging technology and reading healthcare journals are all ways to impress your boss, come review time. In addition, if opportunities come up during the year to broaden your knowledge or skills, don’t wait for your supervisor’s invitation to take advantage of them.

“You have to move purposefully through your career,” says our expert. “You need to be out there looking for what courses interest you, showing a sense of lifelong learning, especially in healthcare, because there’s constant change.”

Blow your own trumpet

Before the appraisal meeting, compile that list of accomplishments to discuss with your supervisor, recommend experts.

Most performance reviews have a self-appraisal section where you should detail your year-long successes. Committees you’ve served on, classes you’ve taken or seminars you’ve attended are all achievements that should be mentioned in this section.

Also, be sure to highlight specific areas within your specialty. Nurses, for instance, should detail their expertise in clinical-care matters such as changing dressings, inserting IVs or teaching patients how to care for themselves.

Healthcare workers often hesitate to outline their achievements, but reminding your boss that you spearheaded a team project or helped institute a policy change is just fact.

“People have a really hard time talking about themselves in a positive way,” says one of the experts we spoke to. “I tell people to put that aside. This is a business exchange. These are things you’ve done, and you want to bring them to the table.”

Negotiating skills

If you’re seeking a raise or promotion, preparation is again the key.

If you are planning to ask for a raise, it is recommended that you read up on negotiating strategies. If your goal is promotion, ask your supervisor about your workplace’s management track and how you can gain the knowledge and experience required to move up.

In addition, experts recommend asking your supervisor how he advanced in the company and about challenges he overcame. Also, seek input on your skills that are appropriate for management.

The good and the bad

Even with all your preparation, your performance review is unlikely to be entirely positive. Experts say you should be ready with a plan to address any weaknesses your supervisor might bring up.

“It’s obvious that whoever is doing the review will look for strengths and weaknesses,” says another expert. “The employee should be prepared for that and should say how they’re going to improve.”

Remaining businesslike throughout the review is also important. Be prepared for both positive and negative feedback.

Expert says healthcare workers need to remember that their performance appraisals are an opportunity to improve their careers. Too often, they lose sight of their own goals.

“We learn to put everyone before ourselves and that’s not a good thing.”