How to Recruit Nursing Students to Work at Your Hospital
There’s no doubt that our country is experiencing a significant nursing shortage. Demand was already growing before the pandemic, and now it’s even greater. Older nurses are retiring, and the Baby Boomer generation will soon have higher healthcare needs as they age.
What does this mean for hospitals and other nursing recruitment and hiring decision-makers? For one, it means that they will have to work hard to attract high-quality nurses to their facilities. And a great way to do that is by getting the attention of nursing students as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Utilize Social Media (and the Internet) to the Fullest
The National League for Nursing (NLN) reports that in 2020, students under age 25 made up the largest percentages of nursing school enrollments for the following programs:
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN)
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
This means many of our future nurses are from Generation Z (the one after Millennials). These students grew up with the internet, and they spend much of their time there as adults. So, recruitment measures will need to be up-to-date with modern social media and internet use.
It’s best to take a multi-channel approach. See this post about which social media sites are most popular with nurses, and get your organization active on them.
You might also want to work with an experienced healthcare recruitment company to help you get ads in the right places and develop a content strategy that will speak to nursing students.
Advertise on University Job Boards
School job boards can be a fantastic place to reach budding students. Plus, recent alumni — who are actively looking for jobs — will often still have access to these boards.
Posting on these job boards can help you get (and stay) at the forefront of students’ minds as they think about where they want to start their nursing careers.
Show Up at Job Fairs and On-Campus Events
Universities often job fairs and other events that get students in touch with potential employers. Signing up for a booth will put you in front of actively searching (or even just curious) nursing students.
Have representatives for your hospital show up to answer questions and give students an idea of what it’s like working for you.
Offer Hands-On Experience to Students
Another tip on how to recruit nursing students is offering internships and college credit they can take advantage of during school. Students can experience what it’s like to be on the job while also establishing relationships at your organization.
You can also carefully review internship applications to increase your chance of finding nursing who are the best fit.
Offer Attractive Incentives (Short-Term and Long-Term)
The current workforce is seeking more than good pay and benefits. Nursing students will be looking for hospitals that exude an inclusive and collaborative culture.
No doubt, some of them have heard horror stories and are worried about jumping into nursing during a shortage. They will be seeking workplaces that put energy into nurses’ needs so that they can bring the best for their patients.
Also, technology is king. Younger nurses will be incredibly excited about cutting-edge equipment and updated technology.
With all that said, generous sign-on bonuses and other upfront incentives are still attractive to nursing students and newly-graduated nurses. It’s generally best to offer a combination of short-term benefits and long-term investments to keep nurses happy and wanting to stay with you.
Need help with your nursing recruitment strategies? We have you covered. Contact AMG Recruitment today about your needs and how we can help.
