Nurse recruiters who tirelessly seek out just the right candidates for nursing jobs understand how important their roles are — especially now. Nurses are at the center of healthcare delivery in all settings. Yet, there are factors limiting their availability.
A major factor is the continuing nursing shortage, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to avoid a further shortage, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics foresees that 11 million additional nurses will be needed.
In view of this and other factors such as an aging workforce, recruiters’ ability to find the right nurses can be challenging. Once you find nurses who are a good fit, getting them to join your organization relies heavily on showing them all the benefits they’re signing up for.
Nurses Want to Know
Besides the job description and commonly offered benefits such as health and disability insurance, what other details do nurses want and need to know?
The 2020 Nurse.com Nurse Salary Survey and Report identified three main categories surrounding benefits that were important to nurses seeking jobs: bonuses, paid continuing education, and tuition reimbursement.
Other studies have identified additional perks that are enticing to nurses, including flexible work schedules and employee autonomy.
In addition, you also may want to tout the types of legal supports and protections new hires have access to when they join your organization, including:
- Risk management services
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Human resource teams
These support systems help promote a positive working environment, which can lead to healthy working relationships among nurses and other healthcare team members. They also provide assistance when concerns with patient care issues arise and allow confidential sharing by nurses with professionals who can intervene quickly and efficiently.
The overwhelming benefit to both nurses and employers is mitigating the potential for legal issues involving patient care.
Legal Protections in Your Workplace
The legal protections employers offer may vary in number and type, but consider sharing the following with prospective candidates for nursing jobs:
- Staffing ratios
- Policies on violence, incivility, bullying, and sexual harassment, as well as how to report an incident
- Policies and procedures for refusing a patient care assignment
- Policies and procedures for filing a grievance when a discipline is imposed
- Adherence to established and updated infection control standards, including those applicable to COVID-19
- Established policies and procedures for diversity and inclusivity
When legal protections are clearly defined, they not only benefit the healthcare entity, but its nursing staff as well. When nurses know their rights and how to exercise them within established legal parameters, it reduces confusion and cuts down on frustration and trust issues.
Confusion, frustration, and lack of trust can often lead to legal unrest.
If you have not considered highlighting the legal supports and protections outlined here in your discussions with potential hires for nursing jobs, consider doing so. It can help show that transparency is important to your organization and build trust with nurses you want to hire.
