By Alan Moretti
“Knowledge is power” has been heard within many circles and can be traced back to 1597 and Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, statesman, scientist and author. Bacon published this philosophical phrase and its supporting meaning in his book, “Meditationes Sacrae and Human Philosophy.”
Knowledge is a powerful factor that empowers people to achieve great results. The more knowledge a person gains, the more powerful he becomes. There is no end to knowledge. There is no limit to what a person can learn. Even big problems can be solved if we have the knowledge of solving it. By knowledge of science, man has learned how to survive and proposer in nature. Development is possible by knowledge and not by physical strength. No individual or nation can prosper in life without knowledge. Think about it – could a teacher without thorough knowledge teach a student well? Would a student without any knowledge of the subject matter be able to pass a quiz or test? The answers to these questions are a simple “No.”
For HTM professionals, the concept of “knowledge is power” resides in their everyday duties and assignments within the hospital setting. The ability to perform a range of tasks to successful completion relies upon the acquired knowledge and experiences received through various levels of training and formalized education. These precise abilities can elevate HTM professionals and set them apart depending on their inherit talents coupled with “knowledge” that ultimately will make them powerful. Think about it a little bit – how does one person work as a CT engineer and another person service infusion pumps? What makes these two areas of expertise and the people involved different? Well “knowledge” would be an obvious difference. Would it be safe to assume “power” could then be defined as the marketability of that person and the compensation that it brings them?
So, as an HTM professional, you may ask yourself, how do I drive this “knowledge is power” concept to best serve the development and growth of my career? What methods and tools do I have in my toolbox today? What do I still need to acquire? These are great questions and a powerful pathway to answers can be achieved through developing your personal HTM networking web. Connecting with colleagues and making new relationships via social media groups such as LinkedIn and attending regional biomedical association meetings and conferences will enrich your career and its prosperity. Other nuggets of “knowledge” can be cultivated via various resource groups. Their content provides a “knowledge” framework that can be gleaned and provide a level of “power” when pursuing marketability rankings.
The key to unleashing the “power of knowledge” and reaping all of its benefits, as Sir Charles tells us is you!