The healthcare industry is experiencing rapid growth, with a remarkable 50% increase between 2013 and 2022. This expansion has made healthcare one of the largest employment sectors, employing 5% of the Australian workforce.
Why Recruiting Matters
This growth comes with challenges, primarily understaffing and a shortage of skilled professionals. When healthcare facilities face staffing shortages, patient outcomes suffer. Effective recruitment is essential to ensure that your practice can deliver high-quality care and fill staffing gaps quickly. Finding the right staff the first time is crucial to avoid wasting time and resources on unsuitable candidates.
Current Pain Points
The healthcare sector is facing significant recruitment challenges.
While the industry is still growing, each year, over 20,000 nurses are leaving the profession. Additionally, a concerning 25% of current nurses plan to leave within the next 2-5 years, further intensifying the demand for replacements. This exodus of experienced professionals places immense pressure on healthcare facilities to maintain adequate staffing levels and ensure quality patient care.
The aging population and workforce mean fewer qualified candidates are available. While burnout and career breaks further exacerbate this issue – with less qualified candidates in the market at any given time. And as medical technology advances and healthcare needs become more complex, finding candidates with the necessary specialised skills is increasingly difficult.
If you’re struggling to find the right staff, our healthcare recruiting services can help.
Develop Your Healthcare Recruiting Strategy
Identify Your Needs
Before starting the recruitment process, it’s essential to identify your specific staffing needs:
- Determine the roles you need to fill: Understand the specific positions that are vacant and the impact these roles have on your facility.
- Identify the qualifications required: Clearly outline the educational and professional qualifications needed for each role.
- Consider the cultural fit and necessary soft skills: Beyond technical skills, assess the soft skills and personality traits that will complement your existing team and culture.
Develop an Attractive Offer
To attract top talent, healthcare facilities must offer competitive and appealing packages:
- Competitive salary packages: Ensure your salaries are in line with or above industry standards.
- Offer a range of employment options: There’s a shift for staff to move towards temporary or set-term roles, which gives greater flexibility and pay – opt to include options like this while hiring.
- Perks and benefits: Offer flexible working hours, professional development opportunities, and comprehensive health insurance. These benefits are highly valued by healthcare professionals.
- Address workload issues: Excessive workload is a significant concern, with 65% of nurses reporting an excessive workload and 75% feeling stressed or exhausted at work. Creating a supportive work environment can help mitigate these issues and make your facility more attractive to potential hires.
Hiring Process
Developing a streamlined and efficient hiring process is critical:
- Utilize technology: Use applicant tracking systems and video interviewing tools to manage applications and conduct interviews more efficiently.
- Conduct thorough interviews: Assess both technical competencies and soft skills during interviews to ensure a good fit for the role and your team.
- Implement a robust reference-checking process: Verify the candidate’s qualifications and past performance through reference checks.
Onboarding
A well-structured onboarding program is vital for integrating new hires into your team:
- Create a comprehensive onboarding program: Provide a clear introduction to your facility’s policies, procedures, and culture.
- Ensure new hires are well-integrated: Help new staff feel welcomed and part of the team from day one.
- Provide necessary training and resources: Equip new hires with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
- Assign mentors or buddies: Pair new employees with experienced staff members who can offer guidance and support.
Retention
Retaining skilled staff is just as important as hiring them:
- Offer continuous professional development: Provide opportunities for staff to advance their careers through ongoing training and education.
- Foster a positive and supportive work culture: Encourage a work environment where employees feel valued and supported.
- Regularly review compensation and benefits packages: Ensure that your compensation packages remain competitive and reflective of the market.
- Provide work-life balance initiatives: Implement policies and practices that promote a healthy work-life balance.
- Employee Feedback: Regularly collect and act on employee feedback to improve job satisfaction and address any concerns promptly to reduce turnover.
Planning for the Future
To ensure long-term success, healthcare facilities must plan for future staffing needs:
- Workforce Planning: Develop a long-term workforce plan to anticipate and address future staffing needs. This proactive approach helps mitigate staffing shortages and ensures your facility is prepared for growth.
- Community Engagement: Engage with local educational institutions and community organizations to create a talent pipeline. Building relationships with nursing schools, universities, and community groups can help attract new graduates and other potential hires to your facility.
By focusing on these key areas, hospitals and healthcare facilities can improve their recruitment processes and build a strong, capable team to provide the best possible care for their patients. Talk to Flexistaff today about your hiring needs.