Five Recruiting Tips for Hiring Top Talent in Nursing

The U.S. faces a shortage of nurse practitioners as its population ages, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.¹ In fact, by 2030, one in every five Americans will be 65 or older, says the U.S. Census Bureau.² But there are other factors contributing to the nursing crisis, such as high turnover and retirement rates as a result of the pandemic. The overwhelming need for nurses impacts the hiring process, making it challenging for recruiters to find top-notch talent. With the right strategies, though, recruiters can still find good candidates to hire. Here are some things employers should consider when recruiting nurses:

• It’s important to create an appealing job description.
  You won’t find job candidates without a compelling ad, which is why the job description should accurately convey the responsibilities of the position and the qualifications needed in the candidate. “Recruiting needs to be focused on the specialty needed,” says Patricia Sweeney, human resource manager at Old Colony Hospice and Palliative Care. “The employer must know exactly what skills they need and be able to advertise those skills.”³
• Increased competition means employers should up the ante.
  To succeed when hiring nurses, recruiters must stay ahead of the pack. That means creating a hiring package that packs a punch. So offer signing and retention bonuses and provide extra benefits such as loan forgiveness and tuition help.
• Dedication to quality matters.
  Nurses care about their jobs, and they want the same sentiment from their employer. “A deep commitment to quality is what’s appealing,” says Sharon Maguire, chief clinical officer at home care provider BrightStar Care.⁴ Professionals want a job situation that allows them to do good work—and one that provides the resources and tools required to do so.
• Offer opportunities for mentoring and engagement.
  You want to empower employees for success, and offering effective programs like nurse mentoring and new hire orientation can help welcome your staff to the organization and make them feel included.⁵
• Seek out collaborative partnerships with academic institutions to bolster shared knowledge and create more opportunity in the industry.
  The American Association of Colleges of Nursing maintains that such partnerships “strengthen nursing practice and help nurses become well positioned to lead change and advance health.” Such cooperation allows higher education institutions to create more relevant nursing coursework.⁶

Learn More About Nursing at Walden University

Whether you are seeking to enhance your skill set through nursing education or want to move into leadership in nursing, Walden University makes it possible to earn a degree online with programs that include a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Completion Program.

The master’s program is CCNE-accredited and has five nurse practitioner specializations, in adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care, family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) primary care, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. The program also offers specialty practice specializations in nursing education, nurse executive, nursing informatics, and public health nursing. An MS in Nursing can be the gateway to many nursing career options, from psychiatric nurse practitioner to nursing management.⁷

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Completion Program allows working nurses to pursue higher education while maintaining their daily responsibilities. Also CCNE-accredited, this RN to BSN online program is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials. Students have the option of choosing the Accelerate Into Master’s (AIM) path, which allows them to earn up to 15 master’s-level credits at the undergraduate tuition rate.

Both programs are offered in both a traditional, course-based learning format as well as a competency-based format called Tempo Learning®, in which you set your own pace. Online classes are enhanced with interactive simulations, and all School of Nursing didactic faculty are doctorally prepared. Students also have access to Practicum Advantage™, which provides coaching, resources, and self-help tools.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering a full suite of nursing degree programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-information/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage
²Source: www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p25-1144.pdf
³Source: www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/how-to-recruit-nurses/
⁴Source: https://hiring.monster.com/resources/recruiting-strategies/talent-acquisition/how-to-recruit-nurses/
⁵Source: www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/02/17/three-strategies-for-exceeding-your-nurse-hire-goals-in-2021/?sh=2bd1093f6c05
⁶Source: www.aacnnursing.org/Academic-Practice-Partnerships/The-Guiding-Principles
⁷Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.