From Clinical Competency to Culture Fit: How Hospitals Pick Nurses

In our time today, that our hospitals are desperate to hire new nurses for our healthcare systems, there are still quite a few points that managers are looking for applicant nurses. Our hospitals prioritize recent , full-time acute care inpatient nurses that have 1-2 years’ experience in a 100+ bed setting, having a BSN (Bachelor in Science in Nursing, an active state licensure or we all may know it as a NCLEX-RN passer, and having an English proficiency exam passing grade like IELTS or OET for foreign-educated nurses. These qualities are still the needed norm for nursing applicants in our hospitals. There may be shortage of nurses in our hospitals, but the qualities needed for hospital managers to hire nurses are still up. Below are some of the examples that managers are aiming to find in applicants.

1.  Clinical Experience and Competency- hospitals are looking for inpatient acute care nurses, who are fast-paced and have med-surge, telemetry, ICU, ER, Step-down nursing experience. Specialty nurses are mostly prioritized in hiring, like critical care, operating room, and Labor and Delivery nurses are highly in demand.
2. Legal qualifications and credentials- applicants need to pass the NCLEX-RN. It is required in all 50 states. Applicants must also have credentials from CGFNS, as this is required for US immigration. While associate degrees (AND) are common in the US, many hospitals favor having a BSN degree for their applicants.
3. Skills and Hospital Culture- recruiters want nurses who have adaptability and safety in their work ethics. Nurses need to transition into a highly structured, technology-driven fast paced  environments. Strong communication skills, and the ability to work effectively alongside other Healthcare Workers is also a must. And lastly, certifications and the involvement in continuous training/learning is a very good way to show recruiters the dedication to patient safety practices.

While the nursing population is still going downhill, recruiters don’t just hire any nursing staff. They still look for more abled and suitable applicants for the vacant job. As hospitals nationwide are still facing nurse shortages, several healthcare systems stand out for their aggressive recruitment efforts. Below are some of the top employers that international nurses should keep in their radar:

1. HCA Healthcare
2. Ascension
3. CommonSpirit Health
4. AdventHealth
5. Mayo Clinic
6. Tenet Healthcare
7. Cleveland Clinic
8. Providence
9. Trinity Health
10. Banner Health

These are just some of the hospitals that are in the list. Though most of these hospitals are big, it doesn’t mean that they are suitable for all nurses. As what the Nursing CE Central said, “When nurses are cared for with fair pay and good benefits, while working in a safe environment that promotes top-notch medical care, they have more pride and will strive to provide the best nursing care to their patients.”

This just means that when nurses are applying for a job position, they also need to weigh things according to their preference. Being in a big, well-known hospital doesn’t mean you are going to have a good work life there. And also, for recruiters, giving nurses the pay they deserve and also the benefits fitted for their employees is one of the best factor for them to land better nursing staffs.

Resources:
What U.S. Hospitals Are Looking For in International Nurses
The Best Hospitals for Nurses to Work At
Top U.S. Healthcare Organizations Leading the Way in Hiring Nurses – A – VisaMadeEZ