Nursing talent is in high demand, with the RN workforce expected to grow from 3.1 million in 2021 to 3.3 million in 2031. Healthcare facilities are turning to nursing recruitment agencies to help secure qualified nursing candidates quickly. But, it can be challenging to know which questions to ask and what information is essential when selecting the perfect nurse recruitment agency for your organization. Here are several key questions to consider when assessing nursing recruitment agencies.
What is Your Process for Finding Nursing Candidates?
The first question you should ask nursing recruitment agencies is about their process for finding and recruiting qualified nursing candidates. Top recruiting firms will have a comprehensive methodology involving in-depth research and nursing talent analysis. So, ask about how they source nursing candidates, stay on top of healthcare hiring trends, the screening processes they use to evaluate candidate fit, and what tools they employ to ensure successful recruitment. Questions related to how they assess nursing talents, such as aptitude tests and skill evaluations, are also great indicators of their recruitment abilities.
Do You Help Recruit Nurses for All Healthcare Facilities?
Every healthcare facility is unique and requires a personalized approach to recruiting nurses for its organization. While some healthcare recruitment firms specialize in recruiting for specific types of healthcare organizations, like long-term care facilities or outpatient centers, others offer comprehensive recruitment services. Knowing this information can help you decide if a recruiting team has experience working with similar healthcare settings like yours.
What Are Your Screening Procedures Before Hiring?
In healthcare, safety is a top priority, so it goes without saying that background checks are an essential part of the nursing recruitment process. You need to know that the nursing recruitment firms you partner with take the necessary steps to ensure the nursing candidates are reliable, trustworthy, and safe in the healthcare environment.
When you ask nursing recruitment agencies about their screening procedures, ask what kind of background checks they perform on potential candidates and how often they update these checks. You want to feel confident that all nurses hired through their agency meet the highest standards of safety and integrity before being placed in your facility.
Do You Have Extensive Healthcare Industry Experience?
Recruitment firms with extensive healthcare industry experience are often better equipped to find top nursing talent. Ask medical recruiters about their experience, including the types of healthcare organizations they have served, how many years they've been in business, and if they can provide client references. You can also ask about their familiarity with healthcare regulations or other industry requirements that affect hiring. Ultimately, you want assurance that the firm has an established track record of success when placing nurses into positions.
How Do You Minimize Poor Placements?
Mismatched hiring can cost organizations significant time and resources and disrupt the workplace environment. Experienced nurse recruiters will put measures in place, such as employee assessments and pre-screening interviews, to ensure nursing candidates are a good fit for the job and culture. Ask nursing recruitment agencies how they minimize the risk of poor nursing placements and what strategies they use to provide successful hires.
How Do You Compare to Other Nursing Recruitment Agencies?
Every nurse recruitment firm has its own approach to sourcing and hiring qualified RNs and nursing professionals. You want to understand what makes the agency stand out from the rest and why you should trust them with your nursing recruitment needs. Ask medical recruiting teams how they can provide value for your organization and what makes them the best in their industry. In the long run, you want to be sure you are partnering with an agency that can meet your specific staffing needs.
In Summary
Organizations need a recruitment partner with experience finding and hiring top nursing talent to compete in the modern nursing recruitment landscape. And knowing the right questions to ask can help you make a well-informed decision about the best nursing recruitment firm for your organization.
If you're looking for a recruitment partner to help you find qualified nursing professionals, reach out to our team at Hire Velocity. At Hire Velocity, our healthcare recruiting experience and process expertise can help you solve problems like high turnover and talent shortages, and we can save you money at the same time.
Contact us today to learn more about our nurse recruiting solutions.
