Increasing Nurse Recruitment and Retention through Diversity and Inclusion

Increasing Nurse Recruitment and Retention through Diversity and Inclusion

by | May 27, 2022 | Nursing Diversity | 0 comments

Nursing diversity and inclusion have become a top priority for healthcare organizations. To provide the best possible care for your patients, ideally, nurses would come from all walks of life and represent the communities they serve.

The Benefits of Nursing Diversity for Organizations

Nursing diversity and inclusion can benefit your healthcare organization in several ways. Having a diverse and inclusive nursing staff can help improve patient care, communication and collaboration. In addition, organizations that embrace diversity and inclusion are more likely to attract top talent and be viewed as attractive places to work. By understanding the benefits of diversity and inclusion, healthcare recruiting can help better attract nurses from diverse backgrounds. Nurse leaders can also create a more welcoming environment for all nurses in their organization. Finally, nurses can also play an active role in promoting diversity and inclusion in the nursing profession and nursing jobs.

Recruitment Tips for Successful Nursing Diversity and Inclusion

As the nursing profession becomes increasingly diverse, recruiters can take steps to ensure they are making hires that reflect this diversity. Here are some tips that can increase nurse recruiting from a variety of backgrounds:

Make sure your job descriptions and advertisements are inclusive and welcoming to all potential candidates.

Utilize social media and other online platforms to reach out to potential candidates from underrepresented groups.

Attend career fairs and events that focus on diversity in nursing.

Develop relationships with nursing schools and programs that strongly focus on diversity.

Be conscious of any personal biases and make an effort to put all candidates on an equal footing when conducting interviews.

Nursing is a field that is rich in diversity. Nurses come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and experiences. However, this diversity can also be a challenge, as nurses may face more significant difficulties adapting to new environments and cultures. As a result, it is essential to consider how you can best support nurses from diverse backgrounds to assure their retention in the profession. Following these recruiting tips could help the nursing staff to be as diverse and inclusive as possible, which, in turn, can produce improved patient outcomes.

Strategies to Improve Nurse Retention Among Diverse Nurses

Nursing is a demanding and challenging profession. Nurses are often the front line of care in many healthcare settings, and they play a vital role in patient care and outcomes. Nursing is also a diverse profession, with nurses coming from various backgrounds and cultures. As the healthcare landscape evolves, hospitals and other healthcare employers will need to focus on strategies to improve nurse retention among diverse nurses.

One way you may improve nurse retention among diverse nurses is to create a supportive and inclusive work environment. This practice can help ensure career development and growth opportunities and implement policies and approaches that foster a sense of belonging.

Fostering a Welcoming and Diverse Environment for All Nurses

Studies have shown that healthcare organizations are at the most significant risk of employees leaving if they do not perceive the workplace as diverse and equal. Additionally, many employees and leaders who are disabled choose not to share their disability in the workplace. Furthermore, roughly three-quarters feel the need to mask their differences while working.

Nurse leaders can create a more welcoming environment for all nurses when they understand the benefits of diversity and inclusion. Healthcare recruiters can also attract top talent when they promote diversity and inclusion in their organizations. Helping healthcare professionals for over 70 years, Springer Publishing understands the importance of nursing diversity. Learn more about our award-winning resources written by noted scholars and practitioners, which span over 20 nursing subject areas to support every facet of the profession.

Inclusion, Part 1: Your Role in an Inclusive Work Environment

Inclusion, Part 1: Your Role in an Inclusive Work Environment

by | Nov 10, 2014 | Asian-American and Pacific-Island Nurses, Black and African-American Nurses, Blog, Hispanic and Latino Nurses, LGBT Nurses, Men in Nursing, Nurses with Disabilities

Inclusion tops the list of many workplace must-haves. But what exactly does inclusion mean?

According to G. Rumay Alexander, EdD, RN, FAAN, clinical professor and director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, when people talk about inclusion they can’t ignore one very important fact – inclusion means something different for each person.

“You have to define terms and explore it and explain it a little more carefully,” says Alexander, who recently moderated the American Nurses Association webinar Diversity Matters: Create an Inclusive Nursing Culture that Leads to Better Outcomes. “A prime example is that people talk about respect. The fact of the matter is that ten different people have ten different definitions of respect.”

How can you begin talking about inclusion?

1. Define It

Nurses excel at critical thinking skills, says Alexander, so sitting down to talk about what inclusion means in your workplace should be the first step.

2. Think About What Inclusion Means to You

“Self-awareness is so key to the work of an inclusive space,” says Alexander. “Understanding and knowing yourself is important. Know what pushes and doesn’t push your buttons.” Use honest self examination of your biases and prejudices so you become aware of them and realize how they could impact your work. Everyone has had different experiences, says Alexander, and each of those can change your outlook. The important work is understanding how that happens and making sure it doesn’t invade your work.

3. Be Willing to Change

When you do some honest reflection, you might realize where you need to make changes. That’s not a bad thing. Almost everyone needs to do something better, so having an open mind and understanding that you are part of a team trying to change takes the personal sting out. Be willing to learn. “Understand that your private decisions have public ramifications,” says Alexander. “You can’t talk your way out of what you behaved your way into.”

4. Change Your Culture

“Culture will trump strategy every time,” says Alexander. If everyone isn’t on board, any changes and any strategies put in place won’t hold. Understanding workplace culture means understanding who shapes the culture and how they interact. “You have to understand culture,” says Alexander. “Culture is the way you approach your work.”

5. Be Patient

“You have to understand when you are changing culture you are dealing with a process and that takes time,” says Alexander. A new environment won’t happen overnight, but it will happen with self reflection, new approaches, and honest and open communication.

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