How a Leading Hospital Hires Permanent Nurses
Video Insight: How a Top Hospital Recruits Full-Time Nurses
Filmed on September 23, 2024, the Vice President of Talent Acquisition from HCA Healthcare, one of the largest healthcare providers in the U.S., shared insights with Iman Abuzeid, CEO of Nomad Health, about how they hire full-time nurses. Key topics included current trends in nurse recruitment, building a strong employer brand, assembling a proficient hiring team, and ways to enhance hiring practices. Although employed by HCA Healthcare, the opinions he shared are personal.
Current Nursing Market
The healthcare sector's demand for nurses continues to surge, yet the workforce supply struggles to keep pace. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the nurse shortage, with projections estimating a gap of more than one million nurses in the U.S. by 2024. Some key data includes:
- 22% nurse turnover rate in 2021
- 48% of healthcare revenue spent on labor costs
- An average of 82 days to recruit a permanent nurse in acute care settings.
Employer Branding
Initially, HCA Healthcare had a strong patient brand but lacked a solid employer brand. The goal was to position the organization on notable best workplace lists such as Forbes and Fortune. Efforts were made to tailor employer brand content, a strategy any hospital can adopt. Career site videos now feature real employee stories, showcasing their personal connection to the mission, team, and patient care. The VP advises against using stock photos, instead advocating for featuring actual employees.
Talent Acquisition Team
The recruitment team at HCA Healthcare combines traditional recruiters with former healthcare workers. Some retired nurses have transitioned into recruitment roles, including one who had nearly 40 years of experience at the hospital. Former caregivers on the team bring valuable insights into hiring needs, helping to expedite the recruitment process.
Recruitment Process
The VP refers to the last 18 months as The Great Reflection, where traditional norms shifted, and many professionals reconsidered their career paths. In response, HCA Healthcare is revising its hiring process to align with these changes. Interviews now focus on assessing skills such as adaptability and problem-solving. Virtual interviews and video interactions have become more common. Candidates typically answer five standard questions, helping managers evaluate them quickly. Additionally, the hospital hosts exclusive virtual career events for specific departments, such as Labor and Delivery, giving candidates a chance to hear directly from potential colleagues. A streamlined two-step interview process ensures that candidates progress quickly, reflecting the hospital’s commitment to swift hiring.
Speeding Up with Technology
It’s reported that 68% of nurses accept the first job offer, even if later offers are more lucrative. Speed is a critical factor in nurse hiring. Thanks to the Nomad Health platform, over 500 hospitals are now able to hire permanent nurses in less than 20 days.
If you are looking to streamline your nurse hiring process, connect with us today.