Nursing shortages have been a persistent and ongoing issue that continues to challenge the healthcare industry. Nurses across all specialties, including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), are in high demand but are hard to find. Your LPN recruitment strategies must be innovative and effective to attract the necessary talent. We'll explore what's causing a nursing staff shortage and how your organization can create a successful healthcare recruitment process to attract the best nurses.
What is the Reason for the Nursing Shortage?
The shortage of nursing professionals has been a complex issue that was out of control before COVID-19. While the pandemic aggravated an existing problem, other factors contribute to the lack of LPNs, CNAs, and nursing professionals.
- A significant level of burnout.
- An influx of patients.
- An aging population needs more medical care.
- Early retirement of senior nursing staff.
- A decrease in nurse educators.
These factors, compounded with COVID-19, only worsened the nurse hiring situation. To combat this, it's important to leverage efficient LPN recruitment strategies tailored to your organization.
Facing these dilemmas, what can your team do to attract the best nursing talent? Here are a few ways to get started.
Acknowledge That It's A Competitive Market
Medical recruitment is aggressive, with rising demand for a limited amount of LPNs. Prioritize efforts to appeal to what your potential nurses are looking for. Create job descriptions and recruitment materials that accurately reflect the needs and roles of those you're looking to hire. Also, offer benefits packages that speak to their needs and are on par with what similar organizations are offering. Consider unique incentives such as signing and retention bonuses, loan forgiveness, and advanced educational opportunities to make your organization an attractive choice for LPNs.
Sell Your Company Brand
Your brand image and values are key selling points for nursing prospects. A recent survey shows that 86% of employees and job seekers research the reviews and ratings of companies when deciding where to apply for a job. Nurses want to know what it's like to work at your organization, what's required of them, and what tools and resources will be available.
How can you market your brand?
Use social media and your website to highlight your organization's commitment to patient safety and care by showcasing successful initiatives, awards, and recognition. LPN recruitment strategies that leverage your unique company culture and promote the positive environment of your organization can be invaluable in attracting top nurse talent.
Balancing Experience with Strong Supervision
It's easy to dismiss LPNs who are less experienced, but this doesn't have to be the case. While you want an experienced team, recruiting brand new nurses to your team can have a few advantages. These nurses will bring fresh perspectives and unique skill sets. New nursing professionals usually receive a lower salary than their more experienced counterparts. Plus, you can balance their lack of experience with strong supervision through mentoring programs. Invest in creating an environment where new LPNs can learn, grow, and feel supported. This approach attracts new LPNs and fosters their development into skilled professionals and long-term team members.
Collaborate with Educational Institutions
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, every year, nursing schools turn away thousands of interested nurses due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, and other resources. To help strengthen the nurse and LPN recruitment pipeline, partner with nursing schools and vocational training centers to recruit new talent. This collaboration will help you find qualified applicants while also helping to support the development of a more skilled nursing workforce for the future.
Prioritize Retention
A successful LPN recruitment strategy doesn't stop once you hire and place a nurse. While it's important to focus on nursing recruiting, also focus on retaining your existing staff. Create an environment where nurses are partners and ensure they are happy with their jobs. Develop a strong onboarding process, promote career growth, and provide competitive pay and benefits. These retention and LPN recruitment strategies will all help to keep your best nurses around and reduce turnover rates.
Experts in LPN Recruitment
At Hire Velocity, we understand the specialized hiring needs and challenges faced by the healthcare industry. That's why we create custom RPO and executive search solutions to recruit pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, medical technicians, and other health professionals, and we make sure every candidate is a great fit for your organization.
Contact us to learn more about our healthcare recruiting process and strategies.
