I need your help with recruting ideas.

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi. I am not a new Nurse, but can relate to what many of you have said on this thread. It was hard for me at first, too, but I was lucky and had great people around me to help me learn what I needed so that I could do a good job and feel inspired about what I had accomplished at the end of the day.

Having those great people who worked with me was really wonderful.

What I need your help on is this. I am doing a survey for the company I work for on recruiting nurses.

For some people, its the salary, for others its the retirement, for others its a chance for advancement, or location, or development.

What I would like to know, as new Nurses, what are the most important things that would be an incentive for you to hire on with a particular company or hospital. And, why would those things be important to you.

Thank you all so very much.

Harry

Specializes in ED.

for me, if someone would have offered chikd care I would have jumped at that position

For me, it's how the facility treats staff--like if they are short, do they make it worth your while to come in or get rude if you don't, do they tolerate nurses bullying other nurses, are you able to go in and talk to the DON about a problem or concern within the facility without any repercussions?

Salary is kind of important too, especially whan you are working weekends and holidays. Assistance paying back school loans, or to further your education is nice. I don't mind not getting a sign on bonus if the pay is right. I'd rather have the security of a higher wage than a sign on bonus. But, I'd rather work in a facility that treats their staff with respect than make tons of money and be miserable.

And it would be nice to work every 3rd weekend instead of every other weekend. At my facility only the RN's have that perk. They also get help paying back school loans. They don't do all that for LPN's b/c the facility was really short on RN's and that was one of their recruitment things.

I read somewhere that the benefits which attract/motivate people the most are correlated with their generation. If I recall correctly, the article said that Baby Boomers and folks a bit younger are more motivated by bonuses and salary, while younger generations are more attracted by work/life balance and opportunities for personal/professional growth. It's obviously a generalization but thought I'd share as food for thought!

Specializes in Director, Acute, OR, ER, SNF, ICFMR, TCU.

Pay does it for me, a competitive salary will always draw a person in. If you are on a limited budget you can divert money's from other components like benefits and holiday pay to get people in the door in it for the almighty dollar.

Thank you all for your feedback.

So far I have found that "younger" RN's go for the salary and "the more mature" go for benefits (as in retirement).

I will be giving a presentation in 2 weeks about my findings. I think that an employer needs to look at the "more mature" RN and what kinds of things they are willing to do to entice them...as retirement, flex schedules, part time, elder-care, mentoring, teaching, contributing to the community, to name a few.

What do you think?

Thanks!

Harry

A good work environment and a facility that treats it nurses well is what would really draw me in. My happiness and job satisfaction matters a lot to me. I pretty much turned down a big sign on bonus because I knew a lot of nurses weren't happy with a particular facility I was looking at. Money can't compensate for misery. I think a facility that can prove that it retains happy nurses for several years has a really strong selling point to those looking for a job.

I'm not a nurse yet, but I have worked in a psych hosp PT as a tech when I was a FT social worker, and I have to say that a workable, professional and helpful staff is the most important, IMHO. I didn't last because the staff was not helpful, and rather unpleasant. It was understaffed, lots of per diem staff, night shift (maybe that was it, I dunno). The patients were not treated that well and the hospital was dirty. I quit soon after starting, and did some moonlighting at another county psych hospital that had a much nicer, more professional staff. So as future nursing student, I have to say that I'm quivering in my boots about getting a good 1st job, and my main concern is finding a helpful, pleasant staff. Even if it pays less than another placement with less helpful staff!

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

A weekend program that pays 36 for 24 and full time bennies for weekend commitments. We have such a program and there's a waiting list.

A career track that leads away from the bedside as the nurse ages and the body poops out that doesn't necessarily require additional schooling beyond an ADN. As one of those "more mature" nurses, spending my off time chasing after that BSN when I could be spending it with the grands isn't an idea I relish.

Flexibility in the orientation process that works with the individual rather than everyone getting the same orientation for the same amount of time. This is where a lot of attrition takes place. Recruiting is tough but what good is it if you can't keep 'em.

Actively supporting new nurses and having an anti-bullying culture are the most important things.:balloons:

you guys are awesome!!!

Thank you so much!!!

Harry

A wonderful DON for starters... also a sign-on bonus, plus great orientation/training.

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