My passion is helping others feel empowered and attuned to their body. How do I do that? By helping them show up for themselves like never before. In 2015, when I was working as a nurse, I was exhausted and treating myself horribly. My job was consuming me. Sure, I was aware of all the things I …
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Hi, I’m Alex — a Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice and the founder of Care by Alex Holistic Health & Wellness. I started this practice because I saw how often healthcare leaves people feeling rushed, unheard, or treated like a number. My mission is to change that by creating a s…
FAQs:
What is a Nurse?
A nurse is a trained and licensed healthcare professional who provides compassionate, patient-centered care. Nurses work together with other members of a medical team to take care of you when you’re healthy and when you’re sick — whether it’s a temporary infection or an illness that spans years.
Some nurses care for babies or children, including those with complex medical needs. Others care for adults with specific diagnoses, like heart disease or cancer. Some nurses assist surgeons during major operations. Others specialize in hospice care and are with people during their final moments of life. Nurses with advanced training often serve as primary care providers.
Nurses touch every corner of healthcare, including those you might never see. While many nurses work primarily with patients, others also work behind the scenes in research, teaching, or policymaking.
What Does a Nurse Do?
Nurses can work in any specialty area across many different areas of the hospital. Each area will have a different set of responsibilities, but a common set of duties includes:
1. Patient intake and obtaining measurements, vitals, and health histories
2. Monitoring patient vitals regularly
3. Giving medication, recording doses, and timing
4. Performing hands-on technical, and medical duties
5. Communicating with patients about their care plan
6. Charting and working with electronic health record software
7. Relaying important information to the treating physician and other healthcare staff as needed
What is Nursing?
Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence".
Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well, and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles.
Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human responses; and advocacy in health care for individuals, families, communities, and populations.
Where Do Nurses Work?
On a given day, nurses may work with doctors, residents, nursing assistants, home health aides, speech therapists, occupational therapists, other nurses, and patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly.
1. Hospital work environment: In hospitals, nurses may be assigned to several patients from their unit and will check in on the patients throughout their shift, administering medications as needed, as well as writing down any symptoms or information on their condition.
2. Clinic work environment: In a clinic setting, nurses will often do patient intake, which involves taking vitals and entering basic health information for patients before they see the doctor, administering vaccinations, and delivering medications.
3. Laboratory work environment: Nurses in laboratory roles will mainly draw blood for a variety of tests and may monitor patients for urine tests or gather other fluid samples.
Positions can be anywhere from 10 to 40+ hours a week, and nurses often need to cover shifts on some holidays and weekends. Nurses are employed in hospitals, medical clinics, schools, nursing homes, and home health agencies.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has completed advanced education and training beyond that required of a registered nurse (RN). Nurse practitioners are trained to provide a wide range of healthcare services, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, interpreting diagnostic tests, and managing overall patient care.
The main difference between being an RN and an NP is that nurse practitioners have more authority and have similar responsibilities to those of a doctor. They can serve as primary care or specialty care providers and typically focus their care on a specific population, such as families, children, or the elderly. As clinicians, they focus on health promotion and disease prevention in their patients.
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who works with doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centered care. RNs often specialize in caring for specific populations or working in certain settings. For example, an RN might specialize in caring for people with cardiovascular disease or working in emergency departments.
An RN might care for you while you’re staying in the hospital or even during a routine medical appointment. They might also be the person who talks to you about a loved one’s condition and explains what at-home care involves. They’re prepared to break down complex information into terms you and your family can understand.
RNs must complete a rigorous education and meet licensure requirements. This training ensures they have the knowledge and skills necessary to give you the best possible care.
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
RNs work in almost every healthcare environment imaginable, and their duties can vary tremendously from job to job and day to day. A nurse’s key traits and responsibilities include the following.
1. Performing physical examinations and gathering patient health histories before making critical decisions.
2. Administering medications and performing personalized medical interventions.
3. Educating and supporting patients by providing health promotion, counseling, and emotional support.
4. Collaborating with other healthcare professionals on the care team to coordinate patient care
Advocating for each patient’s health and well-being.
Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe?
Registered nurses (RNs) don’t have the authority to write prescriptions, and neither do licensed practical nurses (LPNs). An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is the only nursing level qualified to prescribe and administer prescription medication, and even this can vary from one state to the next, depending on how that state’s nursing board defines the scope of practice.
Is a Nurse Practitioner a Doctor?
So, do you call a nurse practitioner a doctor? As a general rule, no, because not all nurse practitioners have a doctorate or similar qualifying degree. The consensus is that you should use the cue they give you in their introduction, including the title they assign themselves.
As for nurse practitioners with a doctorate, this can be a thorny subject to navigate, because there is an escalating battle over nurse practitioner’s right to refer to themselves as doctors, stemming from debates over the implication of the word “doctor” in the medical field versus other fields where the honorific doctor is used.
What is the Nurse Practice Act?
The NPA is a set of laws that every state legislature created to regulate the nursing industry. These regulations set the scope and responsibilities of the practice of registered nurses. The NPA covers a wide range of topics to establish a safe, consistent level of care in that state.
When is International Nurses Day?
International Nurses Day (IND) is an international day observed around the world on 12 May (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth) each year, to mark the contributions that nurses make to society.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965. In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaim a "Nurses' Day"; but he did not approve it.
In January 1974, 12 May was chosen to celebrate the day as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit. The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere. As of 1998, 8 May was designated as the annual National Student Nurses' Day in the US.
Brief History of Nurse Symbols
Nursing pins, medical jewelry, and even scrubs proudly display the symbols representing the power and responsibility of nurses. When you see a person wearing one of these symbols, there is instant identification. Even if a nurse is not in scrubs and on the job, you know what they do for a living just by seeing one of the symbols.
Two symbols are synonymous with nursing: the caduceus and the oil lamp. Each has a different origin story and meaning. Let’s take a look at each of these nursing symbols and dive into their history.
In 1902, the Medical Department of the United States adopted the caduceus as its official symbol. All medical officer uniforms included the caduceus. Other U.S. medical divisions use the caduceus, including the U.S. Navy Pharmacy Division, U.S. Military Nurses, and the U.S. Public Health Service.
When you talk about the history of nursing and nursing symbols, you must include one of the most famous women in British history. Florence Nightingale is credited as the founder of modern nursing practice and is synonymous with the oil lamp. Why a lamp? She often cared for the sick and injured during the nighttime hours, carrying a lamp with her so she could see.
Florence Nightingale’s dedication to her craft paved the way for all future nurses. She shared her medical skills and compassion with those who needed them most, regardless of the situation. She inspired other young women to enter the nursing profession, providing them with a training school where they could learn their craft.
To this day, nurses entering the healthcare field recite “The Florence Nightingale Pledge.” They also may receive a lamp pin at their nursing school graduations to symbolize the importance of this nursing pioneer. Some professional nursing organizations, including the International Council for Nurses, use the lamp in their official logos.
What Makes a Good Nurse?
There are many ways to define a good nurse. In general, it means bringing your best qualities to work to promote positive patient outcomes and striving to strengthen the nursing profession. While working as an essential member of a healthcare team, you seek solutions to improve patient care and advocacy. Certain personality traits and characteristics of a nurse go a long way in helping you succeed in the nursing profession. Here are the essential qualities of a good nurse:
1. Communication skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are crucial areas of strength for nurses. Practicing active listening and being aware of nonverbal cues help you understand how communication approaches may differ. Clear communication and cultural awareness reduce miscommunication and medical errors and enable patients to make informed decisions about their care.
2. Empathy and compassion: Although these characteristics often go hand and hand and are both qualities of a good nurse, they aren't the same. Empathy allows you to have a patient-centered approach to caregiving by relating to what they're experiencing. Compassion fuels your desire to help ease the pain and suffering of others. These two skills contribute to inspiring trust in your patient relationships.
3. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Nurses often work autonomously under pressure and must make decisions using critical thinking to put their knowledge into practice. A solid analytical skill set lets you collect information, evaluate the facts, and develop a rational conclusion to improve patient outcomes.
4. Attention to detail: Mistakes in nursing can have severe consequences, and caring for multiple patients increases the risk of human error. That could cause you to miss changes in a patient's condition if you don't understand the importance of minor details. Excellent time management skills and the ability to balance competing priorities can help you hone this skill.
5. Integrity and advocacy: Core nursing strengths include a strong moral compass while providing care with integrity, and a strong focus on patient advocacy. Patients are often vulnerable and trust nurses to be honest and make decisions with their best interests in mind.
6. Willingness to learn: Health care is constantly changing, so you must be willing to continue to improve and expand upon your nursing qualifications and skills. Take advantage of education and in-services offered by your employer, review and implement evidence-based nursing practice, participate in nurse mentorship programs, join nursing associations, and pursue continuing education. These are all effective ways to stay current in nursing practice and continue to thrive.
3 Main Categories of Nurses
A nurse is a healthcare provider who focuses on the needs of each person. Here are the three main categories of nurses in the USA:
1. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs). A licensed practical nurse performs basic medical tasks. These include checking vital signs and changing bandages. LPNs work under the supervision of other healthcare providers, like doctors and registered nurses.
2. Registered nurses (RNs). A registered nurse has more duties than an LPN. These include performing physical exams and helping create care plans. They work closely with doctors in caring for each person.
3. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). An advanced practice registered nurse is an RN with graduate-level education. This advanced training allows APRNs to perform more duties than RNs, including ordering diagnostic tests and diagnosing conditions. A nurse practitioner is one example of an APRN. Nurse practitioners often serve as primary care providers. Other examples include certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists.
The 6 Cs of Nursing
The purpose of the 6Cs is to ensure patients are looked after with care and compassion, by competent workers who communicate well, dare to make changes that improve care, and can commit to delivering this all day, every day. The 6Cs of nursing are:
1. Care
2. Compassion
3. Competence
4. Communication
5. Courage
6. Commitment
15 Types of Nurses
There’s no shortage of roles that both new graduates and life-long nursing professionals can choose from. With the freedom to select from dozens of specializations, age ranges, and locations, workers can ensure they go into a field they’re most passionate about and suited for. Here are just a few of the many types of nursing jobs available:
1. School Nurse
A school nurse provides care to students within a school or district. This could include diagnosing illnesses, treating minimal injuries, and assisting with other medical concerns that don’t require further action.
2. Public Health Nurse
A public health nurse focuses on improving the overall health of their communities and surrounding areas. They do this by offering various services, like disability, illness, and injury prevention, as well as health programs and best practices. Unlike other nursing roles, public health nurses work alongside lawmakers in local, state, and federal governments to advocate for better health policies globally. They can work in many settings, including hospitals, clinics, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community health centers.
3. Registered Nurse
RNs set up plans for nursing care and deliver medical attention, including assessing patients, administering medications, assisting in diagnostic testing, and providing emotional support to patients and their families.
4. Home Care Nurse
A home care nurse works closely with individuals in a nontraditional setting, providing them with nursing care, like assessing health conditions, planning treatment, and managing medications. Often, patients are elderly, critically ill, or have serious health conditions or impairments that require them to need at-home services. A home health nurse’s main role is to partner with patients to ensure their home is safe and comfortable for the best health and recovery or maintenance results.
5. Nursing Directors
Nursing directors—also referred to as directors of nursing—are in charge of leading nursing operations and staff members. It’s their responsibility to oversee healthcare facilities, ensuring there are smooth processes and smart decisions made within medical departments. While a nurse manager generally interacts closely with nursing staff, directors of nursing don’t have as much contact with employees. Oftentimes, nursing managers directly report to directors, keeping them informed on important information and internal details.
6. Nurse Educator
A nurse educator’s primary role is to teach prospective nursing professionals clinical skills, patient care methods, and best collaboration practices. On top of that, they develop education programs, facilitate training, and provide educational resources to staff members.
7. Intensive Care Nurse
An intensive care or critical care nurse works with patients with life-threatening illnesses or conditions. It’s their role to respond to emergencies, care for people in recovery in an intensive care unit, conduct full-body assessments, and deliver emotional support to patients and their families or caregivers. They work mainly in hospitals and healthcare centers with intensive care units, and they partner with doctors, radiologists, therapists, and other medical professionals to guide patients in their healing journey.
8. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
A psychiatric nurse practitioner helps diagnose and treat patients who deal with mental illnesses or disabilities. They aid in medication management and provide education for patients and loved ones on mental health conditions and best practices.
9. Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a nurse who has advanced education and training in the field. Their responsibilities include examining patients, diagnosing health problems, analyzing test results, and administering medicine. They work in several medical settings, like hospitals, physicians’ offices, and clinics.
10. Travel Nurse
A travel nurse works in a similar role to a registered nurse. However, they respond to a healthcare facility‘s nursing shortages and complete temporary assignments around the country—or even throughout different parts of the world. Typically they work closely with physicians and medical teams to design treatment plans and care for patients. Their assignments can last any length of time but are often about 13 weeks long.
11. Clinical Nurse Specialist
A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse with extra training to provide clinical specialty expertise. Their job includes improving patient care plans by working with social workers and providing bedside care to patients. They also diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients and specialty populations across the continuum of care.
12. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
A pediatric nurse practitioner addresses all primary care concerns for children from birth to adolescence. They diagnose and treat illnesses and manage the side effects of potential conditions. Generally, pediatric nurses practice in a physician’s office or a clinic, giving helpful advice to caregivers or family members to improve children’s long-term health.
13. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
A neonatal nurse practitioner is an advanced type of registered nurse who works closely with infants in their first month of life. They provide primary, acute, chronic, and critical care to patients. For babies born prematurely, a neonatal intensive care nurse steps in.
14. Oncology Nurse
An oncology nurse is a specialized medical worker who cares for cancer patients or those at risk of developing the disease. Their responsibilities include providing for patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer, administering medication, and closely monitoring patient conditions. They also deliver emotional support and companionship to their patients.
15. Labor and Delivery Nurse
Those who work as labor and delivery nurses or obstetric nurses are responsible for assisting mothers through labor and delivery, performing cognitive tests on newborn babies, and helping parents select care plans. They consult with patients during prenatal visits, monitor the babies’ heartbeat and mother’s contractions during labor, and perform tests on newborns. This type of nurse—as well as a nurse midwife— generally works within emergency medical departments and may occasionally encounter different delivery styles, such as an unscheduled cesarean section.
Different Nurse Practitioner Specialties
In addition to being general nurse practitioners, NPs can also specialize in a specific population. They often attend a nursing program that allows them to specialize in this area and obtain clinical competency. If they choose a specialization, they'll also need to become certified in the specific specialty area. Here are some of the popular nurse practitioner specialties.
1. Family Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioners or Family Practice Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) provide primary health care services for individuals and families throughout their lifespans. They often act as a primary care provider for their patients, and this can be especially rewarding for those who enjoy developing long-term relationships and getting to know people over time.
2. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who provide care to patients in acute care and/or hospital settings. They see patients when they are sick, admitted to the hospital, or after a surgical procedure and/or trauma. Their focus is solely on caring for the adult population with complex diseases.
3. Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
Aesthetic nurse practitioners specialize in cosmetic medical procedures that improve their patient's appearance. They examine and evaluate patients, counsel them on a variety of procedures, perform those procedures, and care for them as they recover.
4. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric nurse practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses whose sole focus is treating children from infancy through adulthood. They see patients on a one-on-one basis, offering care ranging from well check-ups and immunizations to diagnosing illnesses and treating chronic and acute conditions.
5. Emergency Nurse Practitioner
Emergency nurse practitioners assess, diagnose, and manage injuries and illnesses that need urgent care. They can work with or without supervision, determining which patients need the most immediate care, making decisions about treatment, monitoring patient conditions, and providing education and consultation.
6. Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners specialize in the care of adults from adolescence up to geriatric care. They work with patients and their caregivers to manage chronic conditions, diseases, and other health conditions.
7. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric nurse practitioners or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) specialize in the mental health needs of adults, children, families, groups, and/or communities. They help individuals cope with different psychiatric disorders and illnesses and can also help people with substance abuse disorders.
8. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal nurse practitioners care for premature and sick newborns, including diagnosing them, providing treatment plans, and prescribing medication. They can also assist in delivering patients in certain settings.
9. Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNP) specialize in the comprehensive care of women throughout their lives. They focus on reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological health and usually work in a primary care office setting rather than a hospital or delivery room.
10. Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
Orthopedic nurse practitioners focus on the care and treatment of patients suffering from musculoskeletal problems. These can include disease and/or injuries of the bones, muscles, joints, and supporting connective tissue.
11. Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Oncology nurse practitioners provide comprehensive care to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. They collaborate with other healthcare providers, including physicians, to develop treatment plans for cancer patients.
What Can't a Nurse Practitioner Do
There are many similarities between what NPs and doctors can offer patients. However, NPs need to know their practice boundaries. Along with knowing your state's scope of practice regulations, here are the things doctors can do that nurse practitioners cannot do to help clarify the role of an NP.
1. Perform Surgery
One of the leading roles doctors can do that nurse practitioners cannot do is perform major surgery. NPs are not surgeons. They can do minor procedures such as lance boils and suture lacerations, but nurse practitioners are not allowed to perform major surgery alone. NPs can assist the physician in surgery, but their surgical role is typically relegated to supporting and educating the patient pre- and post-op.
2. Deliver Babies
Delivering a baby is one of the things that a doctor can do that a nurse practitioner cannot do. Women’s Health NPs work with patients before and after delivery but do not deliver babies independently. There is not a nurse practitioner specialty that teaches how to deliver babies.
3. Prescribe Medication
In about half of the US states, there is one significant role that a doctor can do that nurse practitioners cannot do; that is to prescribe medication independently. In these limited or restrictive practice states, nurse practitioners must have a doctor's approval before prescribing medication. Once doctors are legally permitted to practice, they are given free rein to prescribe any medication they see fit. Many states limit or require that NPs take additional courses to prescribe specific drugs and are governed by a long list of restrictions and actions to prescribe based on their scope of practice.
4. Be Primary Care Providers
Although the educational track of most FNP schools prepares nurse practitioners as primary care providers, the scope and practice of some states curtail this privilege. While the majority of the states recognize NPs as primary care providers, there is a handful that does not recognize NPs in this role. For instance, Michigan, known for some of the most restrictive practices for NPs, does not explicitly recognize NPs as primary care providers under state law.
5. Can Be an Ophthalmologist
While in school, doctors may choose to become an ophthalmologist as their career choice. NPs cannot be ophthalmologists or specialize in the care of the eyes as there is no NP program for this field.
6. Can be an Anesthesiologist
Although nurses can pursue an advanced degree as nurse anesthetists, they are not nurse practitioners. They are nurse anesthetists (CRNA) with their own set of rules to practice. Nurse practitioners do not have programs designed to train nurses to work with anesthetized patients.
7. Can Become a Specialist
One of the big things that a doctor can do that an NP cannot do is become a specialist in a field of medicine. Most doctors specialize in a specific field to become an expert in that area of medicine.
8. Prescribe Schedule II Medication
One thing that doctors can do that nurse practitioners cannot do in some US states is prescribe schedule II drugs. Unfortunately, a few states still place restrictions or limitations on NPs regarding independently prescribing schedule II drugs. Nurse practitioners may be required to be in a collaboration agreement with a physician or have additional educational requirements with applications necessary for permission to prescribe Schedule II medication. The scope of practice for this privilege varies widely from state to state.
9. Set Up Practice Independently
Practicing independently is an assumption for all MDs and Dos. However, autonomous practice is one thing a doctor can do that nurse practitioners cannot do in many states. Autonomous practice is when an NP goes solo in medical practice and does not need a collaborating physician for oversight.
10. Be a Medical Staff Member
One would assume that nurse practitioners would be permitted and even welcomed as medical staff members. However, this is one surprising thing doctors can do that a nurse practitioner cannot do. NPs are not permitted to be medical staff members in many states. Only a handful of states allow NPs to join the medical staff as full members. Other states permit NPs to reduce membership of the medical staff or none at all.
11. Prescribe Physical Therapy
As unreasonable as it seems, some states still do not allow or have laws permitting nurse practitioners to order physical therapy. While the NP scope of practice laws in a majority of states allow our profession to order physical therapy, this is one of the more archaic restrictions that delineate what doctors can do that nurse practitioners cannot do in more restrictive states. Luckily, this restriction seems to be on the way out as more and more states allow NPs to prescribe PT.
12. Sign Death Certificates
One more arguable thing that a doctor can do that an NP cannot do in some states is to sign death certificates. The scope of practice of nurse practitioner law for signing death certificates varies. Some states dictate that only a physician can sign death certificates. In contrast, some NPs are granted permission in certain circumstances (such as hospice cases or after a doctor approves).
13. Sign Disabled Person Placards
Doctors can sign disability cards without giving a thought to it being questioned. On the other hand, nurse practitioners are not allowed in some states to perform this task. Their state scope of practice will dictate if they can, with some states restricting how nurse practitioners accomplish this action, mainly with physician oversight.
14. Call Themselves Doctor
Using the title doctor is one of the big things that doctors can do that nurse practitioners cannot do that has recently come to light in the news. Although NPs can get their DNP and technically hold a doctoral degree, some states explicitly state that NPs cannot call themselves doctors. In the medical field, the confusion between a nurse practitioner with her DNP calling herself a doctor and an MD calling himself a doctor is reasonable. The sticking point is that other medical and education professionals can use the title Dr. before their name.
15. Sign End of Life Treatment Forms/Plans
One thing that doctors can do that NPs cannot do is sign end-of-life planning and treatment forms. The nurse practitioner's scope of practice by state differs on whether an NP can sign these forms. Some states allow NPs to complete the documents, but others still require these forms only to be completed by a physician. Some states do not have a law about this yet.
16. Precept Medical Residents and Fellows
One task a doctor can do that a nurse practitioner cannot do is supervise and precept medical residents and fellows. We have all helped train medical students in one aspect or another. However, only an attending physician can officially supervise and precept medical residents and fellows.
How to Hire the Right Nurse Near Me
Developing a nursing recruitment plan requires knowing where to look for and how to entice potential candidates. Nurse leaders must develop and implement nursing recruitment and onboarding strategies that attract and retain the best candidates for their open roles.
1. Connect with Nursing Schools and Programs
The first step in recruiting nurses is knowing where to find the highly skilled talent you seek:
- Build strong relationships with reputable nursing schools and programs near you.
- Set up speaking engagements at schools and provide internship opportunities.
- Identify nurse recruiting strategies you can leverage, such as webinars, seminars, and conferences where you can network with peers and prospective hires.
2. Craft a Clear, Detailed Job Description
To attract the best nursing talent, it’s essential to clearly outline the required qualifications, job responsibilities, and experience level and describe your organization’s vision and how a specific role fits within that vision. Be sure to include the job’s essential functions and conduct a functional job analysis listing the physical demands each position requires. Doing this will help guide you if any accommodations are requested at the time of hire or when employees return to work after an illness or injury.
3. Establish a Structured Interview Procedure
Prepare to meet multiple candidates during the nurse recruiting interview process. To help home in on the best candidates, create a thorough review of résumés, applications, and cover letters. Note standout characteristics such as special qualifications, personality traits like confidence and resilience, and relevant experience. When meeting with your top candidates, assess their critical thinking and organizational skills, clinical knowledge, and ability to work cohesively with a team.
4. Stay Current on Technology
Demonstrating a forward-thinking work environment is an excellent way to attract top nursing talent. Leveraging technology is an innovative way to recruit nurses and enhance efficiency. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applicant tracking systems (ATS) can help streamline the application and recruitment process.
5. Use Social Media to Broaden Your Search
Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are excellent for broadcasting opportunities and reaching a wider talent pool. The content posted by your organization gives candidates a better sense of the core values at their potential new workplace. Likewise, reviewing potential candidates’ social media posts provides insight into their backgrounds. It can indicate personality traits, future goals, and achievements, which may be critical factors when narrowing down top candidates.
6. Ask Your Staff for Insight
You trust, rely on, and appreciate your staff’s work ethic. They know the department’s inner workings and function as a unit daily. Who better to share insight on the successful qualities and traits of a new team member than your current staff? Involve them whenever possible and get their honest feedback to ensure that any new addition will mesh with the team dynamic.
Sources:
Apple
Google (online)
Office 365 (online)
Outlook
Outlook.com (online)
Yahoo! (online)