Today’s recruitment challenges can feel profound, and long term solutions will be needed in order for staffing levels to return to more sustainable levels. But that doesn’t mean medical and healthcare organizations should simply sit back and wait for something good to happen.
That’s because healthcare companies themselves play a significant role in attracting new recruits. In this way, medical organizations can play a role in these long term solutions. Let’s take a look at what your organization can do to attract new people to enter the rewarding field of healthcare!
Tips for Improving Healthcare Recruitment
To attract new people to enter the healthcare field, healthcare facilities can implement various strategies and initiatives. Here are some ideas:
1. Educational Partnerships:
Ensure that your business or organization is collaborating with educational institutions, such as universities, colleges, and vocational schools. You can establish partnerships that promote healthcare careers.
In this educational setting, you can offer scholarships, internships, and mentorship programs to draw attention to the benefits of medical studies and attract students.
2. Market The Benefits Of A Career In Healthcare:
We all know that healthcare can be a very rewarding career field–both in terms of financial and emotional benefits. Develop targeted marketing campaigns that highlight these benefits and rewards. Use various platforms such as social media, your own website, recruitment websites, and local advertisements (radio, billboard, digital ads, etc.) to reach a wide audience.
It’s important to understand where your target audience is before you begin these campaigns. Your campaign may look different if you’re targeting folks graduating from high school or those who are already on a path in college.
3. Community Engagement:
Many people benefit from seeing the potential in any career. When your organization is out in the community, you’re providing the youth with a possible window into their future. Participate in community events, job fairs, and career expos to raise awareness about healthcare professions. Offer presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on activities to engage potential candidates.
After all, a career in healthcare might be very different than what a young adult might imagine it to be–and they’ll benefit from the engagement and education.
4. Student Outreach Programs:
Most people decide on a career (or, at least, a first career) during their late high school or early college years. To encourage more people to enter the medical field, you should develop programs that introduce these high school and college students to healthcare careers.
You can consider providing opportunities for:
- Job shadowing.
- Volunteering.
- Internships.
- Informational interviews.
- Part-time work.
This can expose young people to the field and spark their interest in healthcare.
5. Enhanced Benefits And Incentives:
Not everyone is motivated entirely by money–but it’s going to be a consideration for every single recruitable candidate. To encourage people to enter the healthcare field, they have to know that these financial incentives will be there.
Offer competitive compensation packages, flexible work schedules, and attractive benefits such as healthcare coverage, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities. Additionally, consider signing bonuses or student loan repayment programs to alleviate financial burdens.
6. Mentoring And Preceptorship Programs:
We all have someone we look up to! A role model can do much to encourage individuals to enter a particular field (think of all the astronauts who wanted to be Captain Kirk).
Establish mentoring programs where experienced healthcare professionals guide and support new entrants. Preceptorship programs can provide practical training and hands-on experience to ease the transition into the healthcare workforce.
7. Technology And Innovation:
A surprising number of tech geniuses go on to work for financial institutions–and that’s no fun at all! You can encourage all of those techies to head for the medical and healthcare fields instead.
Highlight the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advancements in healthcare. Showcase how healthcare facilities, especially your own, are leveraging technology to improve patient care, enhance diagnostics, and streamline processes, appealing to individuals interested in working with advanced tools.
8. Emphasize Work-Life Balance:
In the wake of Covid-19, many people started thinking about what they really wanted from life–and an overcrowded work schedule did not rise to the top of many lists. Today’s recruits are looking for a balanced approach to their careers.
To attract more recruits into the healthcare field, make sure to promote a healthy work-life balance (especially due to the fact that the medical field has a reputation for grueling hours). Implement then highlight:
- Flexible scheduling options.
- Employee wellness programs.
- Supportive work environments.
9. Targeted Advertising:
Tailor recruitment efforts towards specific demographic groups or underrepresented communities. Utilize diverse imagery and narratives that resonate with these audiences, showcasing the inclusivity and diversity within the healthcare field.
People want to know they’ll belong and they’ll be safe being who they are. It’s absolutely critical to the field as whole to make these messages of inclusion as strong as possible.
10. Professional Development Opportunities:
Emphasize the availability of ongoing education and career advancement opportunities within the healthcare facility. Showcase programs for continuing education, certifications, and specialized training to demonstrate a commitment to professional growth. If you aren’t doing enough in this area, work with your leadership team to develop strategies to improve these opportunities.
Recruits should know that just because they’re a nurse today doesn’t mean they can’t be a nurse practitioner tomorrow. Opportunities for advancement are common in healthcare, so make the case that recruits will always find fulfilling new challenges.
11. Alumni Networks And Industry Partnerships:
Establish alumni networks or associations that connect current and former healthcare professionals. Encourage networking and collaboration, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in the healthcare community.
Collaborate with other healthcare organizations, professional associations, and industry leaders to promote the field collectively. Participate in joint initiatives and campaigns that highlight the rewarding aspects of healthcare careers.
Find the Approach That Works
In many ways, recruitment is about motivation: are your recruits motivating internally or externally? And what will make the medical or healthcare field look as appealing as possible?
Solving the current staffing shortages will require a multifaceted approach that encompasses marketing, education, support, and engagement. By implementing these ideas, healthcare facilities can increase interest and inspire more people to pursue careers in healthcare.
POSTED ON:
July 14, 2023
By
Kimberly Winkleman |
Marketing, Patient Experience, Research
Tags:
, healthcare, patient engagement, recruitment
About the Author:
As the COO of PatientX, Kimberly wears many hats. She’s a delegator, a doer, a cheerleader, and a cracker of whips, but what sets her apart is her achieving, go-getter spirit. Kimberly is heavily involved in nearly every project PatientX undertakes, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. As a proud maximizer, she relishes the daily opportunity to help her team members and clients perform at their highest level. Throughout her sixteen-year career, Kimberly has served as an Executive Director for two non-profits while also running two campaigns in South Dakota, and she has experience in all facets of public relations, marketing, executive management, leadership development, public speaking, and event planning. Her love of people and helping others succeed is apparent in her work at PatientX and throughout her life and career.