Discussion: The Recruiting Process

How many times have you, or has someone you know, perused jobs on Monster.com, LinkedIn or a clinical listserv? When browsing employment opportunities, what factors motivate you to apply for one position over another?

As a nurse manager, it is critical that you consider the answers to questions such as these when designing your recruitment process. Identifying the approaches applicants use to find jobs can help you broaden your pool of applicants. In addition, knowing how to create accurate job descriptions to advertise for open positions can increase the chances of finding an applicant that is qualified and exhibits skills that you and your workplace desire.

In this Discussion, you examine the process in which a health care organization engages when attempting to recruit qualified and desirable job candidates.

To prepare

Review Chapters 4 and 5 from the course text, Human Resource Management: Functions, Applications, Skill Development. What best practices can be used to identify, analyze, and describe positions within a health care setting? In addition, what considerations and factors should be taken into account when recruiting job candidates?

Reflect upon the recruitment process used in your current organization or one with which you are familiar. Then, select one setting to further investigate.

Consider questions such as the ones below to identify the recruitment methods and steps involved in searching for and attracting potential employees.

What is expected of the nurse manager in terms of recruitment?

What is expected of HR in terms of recruitment?

How are job openings posted and/or advertised?

What challenges or constraints have been experienced with regard to recruiting desirable and qualified applicants?

Submit a brief description of your selected organization's recruitment process. Include an explanation of who is responsible for each step, how and where positions are advertised, and any unique methods used to recruit employees. Explain the effectiveness of these recruitment processes by citing authentic examples from the setting you selected and this week's Learning Resources as appropriate.

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days using one or more of the following approaches:

Offer and support an alternative perspective on the effectiveness of a colleague's recruitment process by citing examples from the Learning Resources or from your own research in the Walden Library.

Expand on a colleague's posting by providing a legal perspective for why a recruitment process should be revamped or changed, based on readings and evidence.

Share an insight on similar advertising and recruitment methods your setting has used, synthesizing information to provide new perspectives.

Required Readings

Lussier, R. N., & Hendon, J. R. (2016). Human resource management: Functions, applications, & skill development (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Chapter 4, "Matching Employees and Jobs: Job Analysis and Design" (pp. 120-160)

This chapter discusses the importance of matching applicants with the "right" jobs. It highlights topics such as job analysis, job design, and job redesign.

Chapter 5, "Recruiting Job Candidates" (pp. 192-230)

Chapter 5 provides an in-depth examination of recruitment best practices. It explores recruitment considerations and challenges along with internal and external factors that can impact recruitment efforts.

Chapter 6, "Selecting New Employees" (pp. 194-226)

This chapter explains selection processes that are commonly used to find qualified employees. The authors share many techniques used by HR professionals and nurse managers to select the "right" employee for the job.

Markey, L., & Tingle, C. (2012). Screening RNs: A change in hiring practice. Nursing Management, 43(2), 13-15.

This article discusses the process of hiring to fill a nursing position, with a focus on Baton Rouge General Medical Center (BRGMC). At BRGMC, the interview process has one new addition: behavioral screenings for potential RNs. With this new aspect, interviewees are screened for behavior in clinical practice scenarios, equipment recognition, and skills demonstration.

Optional Resources

Lussier, R. N., & Hendon, J. R. (2016). Human resource management: Functions, applications, & skill development (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Chapter 11, "Compensation Management"

Chapter 13, "Employee Benefits"