As the nursing shortage continues to affect the healthcare field in many states, remedies for the situation are becoming available. Yet, hiring a nurse to your staff is currently a competitive situation. While compensation is a topic of interest for these positions, nurses are also concerned about facilities that will invest in their growth and happiness as an employee.
These potential new employees are looking for facilities that have creative solutions for work-life balance and professional growth. Learn how to focus on a few key areas for recruiting quality nurses to your facility.
Use Travel Nurses
Hiring travel nurses is an effective strategy to fill the gap, assist your full-time staff, and provide jobs to a growing number of travel nurses. RNs and LPNs are on the front end of patient care. They’re often remembered by the patient more than their doctor. It is crucial to have well-trained nurses on staff. By hiring a travel nurse, you are providing your facility with an experienced professional. Travel nurses are a great addition to facilities and can result in travel extensions, and even a permanent position if it’s a great fit!
Growth Opportunities
Today’s nurses care about professional growth and do not want to remain stagnant in their field. When recruiting new nursing staff, share with them the educational opportunities you provide as an employer. These offerings can include classes to help nurses transition to other specialties, or progression to higher positions. Not only are you providing your nurses with opportunities that they desire as an employee, you’re also creating growth in your facility. With a more excellent staff, you’ll have the ability to hire internally for promotions confidently.
Relocation Compensation for Permanent Placement
Compensation for relocating is a great way to direct quality nurses to your facility, especially in states that need nursing shortage solutions. Offering compensatory packages for moving expenses can provide an incentive to your travel nurse to take on a permanent placement.
Use a Medical Staffing Agency
It can often be challenging to establish the right match with nurse hires. You want to find someone who fits with both the position and the culture of the facility, not to mention wanting to provide the potential to hire what they are looking for. Utilizing medical staffing agencies can aid in choosing the right nurse for the job. Some benefits to choosing a medical staffing agency like CoreMedical Group include abilities in analyzing resumes and performing initial interviews, recruiting top candidates, and determining whether a candidate is a positive culture fit.
Easier Access to Education
We’ve recognized that growth opportunities are significant to nurses. But, it can often be challenging to find time to complete the necessary continuing education. Providing more convenient access to the nursing staff’s educational needs can be a selling point when looking for potential hires. Nurses also look for the ability to receive compensation for travel upon taking courses away from home or the convenience of an online program for improving education and specialization. With the often-busy nurse schedule, being able to access online applications while working full-time can be beneficial in both providing your facility with educated nurses and being a part of nursing shortage solutions.
While the nursing shortage may be a prevalent challenge at your facility, there are ways to combat this difficult time and hire qualified nurses to your staff. Raising the bar to meet the needs of the educational, financial, and work-life balance of your potential new hires can make all the difference in finding the right individual.