Novel nurse recruitment: Phone a thon

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

At a time when healthcare facilities are scrambling to come up with creative ways to attract nurses, SSM Rehab in St. Louis has taken a somewhat novel approach. Kurt Delabar, SSM director of human resources, outlines how the hospital filled almost 75 percent of its nursing vacancies in a four-hour period by holding a nurse "phone-a-thon."

HL: How did the phone-a-thon work?

Delabar: We advertised the event by mailing out about 15,000 postcards to local licensed nurses. We did more than 100 radio spots, three days prior to and the day of the event. We also ran an ad in the entertainment section of the newspaper. The ad said, "Come to your next interview in your robe." We had clinical directors and a nurse executive doing the clinical interviews and making contingent job offers.

HL: What prior recruitment efforts had you used and how did this differ?

Delabar: We focused on standard methods such as job fairs, coordinating with nursing schools, and print advertising. But they weren't working. The phone-a-thon cost us $18,500, but we estimated we saved $115,400 in agency fees and temps and about $15,000 on recruiting costs. We made 18 offers to applicants the day of the event. Eleven ended up taking positions.

HL: What advice would you give to other managers thinking about conducting a phone-a-thon?

Delabar: I would suggest that during the phone-a-thon you make sure to cross off any filled positions from your list to prevent offering the same position to more than one person.

-Deborah Rascon

http://www.healthleaders.com/magazine/feature1.php?contentid=41101&categoryid=154

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Novel idea.............glad it worked for them.

renerian

[TheBrainMusher]

THat is an interesting idea, I wonder how things work out though. Usually I would take the time out to research the facility etc, walk around ... also how well would you know your candidate on the phone? Would you want them to react with multiple people?

THere is a shortage Though. LOL I can't expect much! Interesting tactic.

[montroyal]

Originally posted by NRSKarenRN

HL: How did the phone-a-thon work?

Delabar: We advertised the event by mailing out about 15,000 postcards to local licensed nurses. We did more than 100 radio spots, three days prior to and the day of the event. We also ran an ad in the entertainment section of the newspaper. The ad said, "Come to your next interview in your robe." We had clinical directors and a nurse executive doing the clinical interviews and making contingent job offers.

Nurses wonder why we have such a hard time being recognized as a profession. This is a perfect example. HIRING BY JUNK MAIL. What is with " Come to your next interview in your robe". Please tell me this organization sent out 14,982 apologese to all the nurses who did not show interest in a position , for showing how little they think of the nursing profession.

[Venti Cappucino]

That bothers me, too. Did anyone else notice that the ad was in the ENTERTAINMENT SECTION of the newspaper? What kind of a message does that send???

I can't speak for everything, but what would catch my attention as far as recruitment goes would be mention of fabulous benefits, innovative scheduling, low patient ratios, etc.

Yeah, I know... I know...not unless I'm looking for a job in Never Never Land.

[RNonsense]

I agree...interesting...but odd......??