While running and managing a healthcare facility, nurses are among your most valuable asset. They are the ones who care for patients, and they can sometimes save a life. Therefore, hiring the right nurses for your facility is essential. But this ain’t an easy task.
Given that nursing is gaining considerable popularity, more students are opting for this career choice. Thus you have a bigger pool of candidates to choose from, which may not make recruitment straightforward. This is because you want to bring someone into your team who’s a cultural fit for the organization and can ensure quality outcomes. So if you want to hire the best nursing practitioners in the business for your hospital or clinic, here are some helpful tips to follow.
1. Hire nurses with a degree in a related medical field
Not every nurse is the same since many even opt for specializations. So if you’re looking for a particular type of nurse, you need to take a close look at their qualifications. For example, you may want to recruit psychiatric nurses for a mental health facility or nurse-midwives if you’re running a maternity clinic. Similarly, look for professionals with advanced nursing degrees for the position of nurse managers and other administrative roles. Hiring specialized nurses will ensure that you’ve got the right professional for the right job.
2. Ask about their skills and work dynamics
Ask candidates about the skills they learned at their previous jobs. They should be able to bring up some of their experiences during their active years. The nurses you hire should be able to work well with others, no matter who their coworkers are or what they were like. The nurses must work well under pressure because they will have to take care of patients in crisis mode. Also, they must bring a new set of skills and knowledge to the team.
3. Prioritize those with experience
If you hire nurses working with patients, consider hiring those who have experience in the healthcare field. Those with previous experience can use their skills to work on an actual patient. The knowledge they have gained can be beneficial to patients during a crisis. And if you hire experienced nurses, they will not have to go through a lot of training.
4. Look at their work history
If you hire nurses that require working full-time, consider looking at their work history. You want to know if they have ever been fired or had any disciplinary issues at their previous workplace. The best nurses have stayed on the job for a long time. They will be able to keep their jobs because they don’t argue with anyone or create problems in the workplace. And they are satisfied with their jobs because they have stayed on for several years.
5. Look at their criminal record
Consider checking their criminal background. You want to know about any prior arrests or convictions in their background. The best nurses are those who have the cleanest records. Those with no criminal history will work well with others and can provide excellent patient care. Be sure that the nurse you choose doesn’t have a track record of medical negligence either. You don’t want to add sloppy nurses to your team and endanger patients.
6. Interview potential candidates face-to-face
You can conduct interviews over the internet or in person. But the latter is preferred. That way, you’ll be able to gauge them better. Remember to ask all candidates if they meet the state and federal requirements for employment. The best nurses are those who have gone through the hiring process before. They will know what to expect and can be hired quickly. And the more applicants you have, the better your chances of finding a great nurse.
7. Hire nurses with current credentials
The best nurses have current certifications in CPR and First Aid. This will ensure that those nurses can use their skills to help patients. They will be able to provide excellent patient care. And those with current certifications will be able to work well with others.
8. Ask them about their goals
During the interview process, ask those you are considering hiring if they have long-term goals for their career as a nurse. They should be able to articulate what they would like to do in the future, whether it involves continuing their education or eventually becoming a nurse practitioner. The best nurses have set career goals and can work well with others. And because they want to advance in the nursing field, they will be able to keep their jobs.
9. Ask them about their philosophy of nursing
You want to hire nurses that are passionate about the work they do. Ask them during the interview process about their philosophy of nursing. They should be able to tell you how they care for patients and answer questions regarding their experience and qualifications. The best nurses can answer questions regarding their philosophy of nursing. They will be able to provide excellent patient care. And remember, good nurses may not have years of experience under their belt yet.
10. Ask about their availability
You want to hire nurses who are available and can work when you’re facility is understaffed. The best nurses know your shift requirements and can work on a flexible schedule. And they should also be able to provide excellent patient care. If you are hiring nurses that will be working shifts, ensure they know your shift requirements and ask them if they can work on a flexible schedule.
Conclusion
IF you want to hire good nurses for your facility or clinic, remember to ask many questions during the interview process. You should ensure they meet state and federal requirements before offering them a position. You want to hire nurses who are passionate about their work and those who can make a full-time commitment to your facility if they are employed on a shift basis. In addition, you want to hire those who have experience in the healthcare field and those who have current certifications in CPR and first aid. If you employ committed nurses, you can ensure they will be able to help you with patient care.
