What do nurses think about recruiters?

Gomer · May 8, 2002

Are you a hospital (employee) recruiter or an agency (head hunter) recruiter? If you work for a hospital, as we all know, finding RN's, retaining RN's, etc. is hard work...as a good RN is hard to find! If you are a headhunter I would think it would be even more difficult. Why would I, as an applicant, go to you a headhunter when I can cut my own deal and get a sign-on bonus...instead of you getting 20%-33% (on my annual salary) as your fee.

fedupnurse · May 8, 2002

I'm not from Nevada but I would hazard a guess that the reason is the same all over: Working consitions in hospitals absolutely SUCK!!!!! Anyone who has ever worked in any hospital knows this. As has been said on this BB before, there is no nursing shortage only a shortage of nurses willing to be abused and overworked on a daily basis.

What are the ads for the place you are recruiting for like? Do they even have ads? Have you contacted nursing schools in the vicinity of your facility? Are you offering a competitive pay scale? What is the reputation of your facility within a 50 mile radius?? How are you recruiting-job fairs, etc?

Good luck!!

bestblondRN · May 9, 2002

Jennifer,

I have to agree with Gomer on this one. I have worked with recruiters a number of times, and I have never been able to negotiate an acceptable salary with a place working with a recruiter--I have been told, point-blank, that a given facility was unwilling to pay an additional $12-25K to get me when there are candidates they don't have to pay that for. It has cost me a job more than once. I can be my own "agent" and have a better chance of winning a negotiation and getting a job I want.

Speaking of Las Vegas, and Nevada in general......I work with several nurses who are travellers who are either from Nevada or who have done assignments there. It sounds like the shortage is profound in that area, and nurse-patient ratios are really unsafe. One complained about unionization as well......I don't know if that helps you, but it's the only scoop I've heard. Good luck!

petiteflower · May 10, 2002

I would love to talk to recruiters at home. But at our hospital, and I think this is the heigth (sp) of tacky--we get calls at work from recruiters just looking for someone in general to talk to. I do not think that it is right to do that and is a big turnoff, and makes me not even want to talk about it. Now check the state registry and find out about me and call me at home and I will talk to a recruiter.