What Nurses Look for in a Job Offer

What Nurses Look for in a Job Offer

The healthcare landscape is ever-changing. By 2026, the RN workforce is expected to increase by 15%, but the U.S. will still experience a shortage of nurses, as the Baby Boomers age and retire. To cover this shortage and account for the continuously growing healthcare industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the need for an additional 203,700 RN’s every year.

Recruiting and training additional nurses is a challenge within itself. However, another problem looms: retaining current nursing staff. Although the majority of nurses are happy with their current jobs, turn-over rates for nursing positions are considerably high – second only to the hospitality industry. Add to that the projected shortage of nurses and healthcare organizations may have difficulty satisfying their staffing needs.

In a tight labor market, healthcare organizations must strive to attract – and retain – highly qualified nurses. In 2018, 23.8% of all new hires left their job in less than a year. So, what influences a nurse’s decision to leave an organization?

  • Limited variety of duties
  • Lack of autonomy
  • A lack of social support
  • Little collaboration with physicians
  • Few opportunities for promotion

Nurses are looking at more than just pay rates and job benefits. Today’s nurse wants a better overall employee experience.

When considering a job offer, a good nurse will take a look at how you treat your current employees. Do you have a healthy, safe environment for your nurses? Do you offer flexibility in work hours, telecommuting and job security? Do you carry smaller patient loads? How many nurses do you have per shift?

In addition to a great environment, nurses also look for better engagement on the job. They want to see professional growth opportunities, mentor-mentee opportunities and a leadership presence on the floor. Nurses are looking for a positive culture among the current nursing staff.

A good work environment and better on-the-job engagement are not all that today’s nurses are considering when comparing job offers. They also look for the opportunity to exercise personal autonomy. Nurses take pride in their work, and value the chance to make decisions. Today’s nurse wants to feel trusted and respected for the work they do.

To better attract high-quality nursing staff, healthcare organizations should consider the work environment offered, the overall department/unit culture, and the chance for personal autonomy. Also, nurses are looking for a holistic approach to patient care. Organizations should pay close attention to how the care they are providing is affecting patient outcomes. Nurses typically enter the healthcare field because they truly care about others and want to be of service. Their patients, and the level of care they can provide to them, is instrumental in their job satisfaction.

The healthcare landscape is constantly changing. With a possible nursing shortage on the horizon, nurses will have more personal freedom when it comes to accepting a job offer. Healthcare organizations need to focus on employee experience, staff engagement, and holistic patient care in order to remain competitive.

M. Grano Dec 20, 2019

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Recruiting

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