Recruitment and Retention

A nurse leader is experiencing a higher than average nursing staff turnover on a rehabilitation unit. What actions can the nurse manager take in hopes of retaining employees?

Check the scheduling to ensure adequate staffing ratios on the floor are being maintained Maintaining adequate staffing ratios has been shown in studies to lower nurse burnout and improve staff retention rates. Set a goal to improve listening skills by allowing time for staff to contribute and voice concerns in staff meetings Good communication skills improve mutual respect between nurse leaders and health care staff and may be one of the most vital keys to long-term retention of nursing staff. Improve the nurse discharge summary procedure to streamline the process of discharging a patient from the unit Effective work redesign processes can lead to an increase in staff retention and improvement in patient safety and patient outcomes.

A nurse manager is evaluating new marketing strategies to attract new nurses. How can the nurse manager most effectively find quality applicants to fill staff nursing positions?

Collaborate with the hospital marketing departmentHospital marketing departments usually have large budgets and can collaborate on marketing strategies to attract quality nurses for recruiting efforts, while leveraging advertising costs. Correct Include virtual tours and testimonials on the hospital web pageStepping out of the box and avoiding routine information on web pages can help nurse managers excel in attracting more talented new staff. Correct Develop a web page with job openings, relocation benefits, and other useful informationDeveloping a web page in collaboration with the hospital marketing department is an effective strategy for attracting quality nurses.

It is the holiday season and the nurse leader of a busy psychiatric unit notices that many staff members seem to be experiencing nursing burnout. Which action should the nurse manager take to address this issue?

Ensure an adequate nurse-patient ratio on the unit throughout the holiday season Paying close attention to nurse-patient ratios and making sure there is enough staff to meet the patients' needs, particularly during the busy season, will lend itself to lowering the nurse burnout level.

The nurse manager of a busy medical/surgical unit is concerned because patient satisfaction on the unit has decreased from 90% to 65%, incident reports for falls on the unit have doubled in the past 30 days, and staff morale is low. How can the manager help improve patient outcomes and raise staff morale?

Implement a team nursing strategy for performing patient care on the unitBoth team collaboration and improved workflow have been shown in studies to increase staff morale. The nurse manager should be mindful of staff morale and find ways to improve efficiency and staff collegiality. Correct Schedule a staff meeting to start a dialogue with the nursing staff on the unit about these concernsCommunication with the staff members would be an important step for the unit manager to take. Increased communication lends itself to improved empowerment of staff and increased staff morale, which will result in better patient outcomes and higher patient satisfaction rates on the unit. Correct Check patterns of nurse-patient ratio to ensure adequate number of staff members have been scheduled during the past 30 daysThis is a very important step for the unit manager to take, as research indicates the number of RN's on the unit correlates to positive benefits for patients and nurse sensitive outcomes (such as falls) and decreased nurse burnout rates (raising staff morale).

A nurse manager is considering hiring graduate nurses for the unit and wants to consider innovative ideas to attract them. Which actions should the nurse consider?

Implementing shadowing opportunities for senior nursing students Taking steps to include shadowing opportunities is an innovative way to find talented new nursing staff, while allowing students to practice clinical skills. The nurse manager would take this step to attract new graduates. Offering a residency program on the unit to senior-level nursing students Having students work on the unit gives the nurse manager a great opportunity to observe the work ethics of new graduates just as they are eligible to begin working after graduation. The nurse manager would take this step to attract new graduates. Taking time each day to talk to staff about their feelings about the job and workflow Acting as a supportive manager who empowers others is an effective recruitment/retention strategy. The nurse manager would take this step to attract new graduates.

A nurse manager is looking to launch a new job posting to attract new nurses to her health care facility. Which recruitment strategies would the manager expect to discuss with the marketing department?

Including links to local real estate firms to encourage relocating nurses Providing information about relocation is an effective recruitment strategy because it goes above and beyond what is expected. It helps potential recruits see that the organization cares about their transition and may encourage quality nurses to apply. Adding a live chat session between prospective applicants and human resources Effective recruitment strategies go above and beyond. The nurse manager may discuss adding a live chat session with marketing, because this is a strategy that can attract qualified new talent. Updating the job posting to include information about types of patients treated Updating a job posting to include information about the types of patients treated provides more information about the posting and is a strategy that can attract qualified new talent.

The nurse manager is having problems recruiting and hiring an adequate number of qualified nurses on the unit. Which actions indicate the nurse manager has a good grasp on various factors that can have an adverse effect on recruiting efforts?

Quickly addressing any concerns or complaints among staff membersThe experience of staff nurses speaks loudly of the reputation of an organization. The reputation of the unit or facility can be adversely affected when dissatisfied nurses talk to other nurses about negative experiences. Maintaining good communication with subordinates is imperative for effective nurse leaders. Correct Fostering a relationship of mutual respect and trust with employeesNurses who have a high level of respect for their managers and feel they are empowered readily spread this information when networking with other employable nurses. Correct Interacting closely with employees to build a good reputation in the communityNurses interact frequently in the community via continuing education seminars, personal contacts, and more. This is an important factor when it comes to setting the tone for satisfied employees who can speak well of the institution.

The nurse leader has weekly staff meetings with the nurses on the unit and asks for input on major decisions affecting staff; some of the input has led to the creation of a task force team, and the nurse leader has asked a staff nurse to join the team. Which strategies are being used to help retain employees?

Respect Incorporating respect into staff-manager relationships can be done by involving staff in decisions that affect them. This is an example of a strategy that can be used to help retain nurses. Correct Empowerment Leaders can unite and help retain nurses through the use of empowerment. The strategy of empowerment provides nurses with a united vision and creates a sense of community. Correct Shared governance Shared governance, when organizations encourage professional autonomy, such as in providing opportunities for staff to engage in unit decisions, is an example of a strategy that can be used to help retain nurses.

A new nurse manager is assigned a patient care unit with very poor staff retention. The nurse manager knows that which factor may be most useful in assessing nurse retention rates and patient outcomes?

Staffing levels Adequate staffing levels may be the most indicative of nursing staff retention and patient outcomes. The new nurse manager should start by looking at the staffing levels and ensuring that each shift is appropriately staffed.

Which statement indicates that the nurse leader understands the significance of implementing successful recruitment strategies?

Successfully recruiting qualified nurses who plan to stay on the job long-term will save money. Successful recruiting involves hiring nurses who plan to stay in their jobs long-term. This saves money in terms of not having to pay temporary staff or overtime pay.

A medical-surgical unit has a steady nursing-staff-to-patient ratio. Which actions or findings indicate the nurse manager may be utilizing the strategies used by magnet-designated hospitals?

The unit has fewer cases of patient falls. Since this unit is well staffed, fewer incidences of patient falls are expected. Adequate staffing and improved patient outcomes are characteristics associated with magnet-designated hospitals, and this finding suggests the nurse manager is utilizing effective strategies. The unit has a reduced rate of nursing staff turnover. Being well-staffed and having a reduced rate of staff turnovers are characteristics associated with magnet-designated hospitals, and this finding suggests the nurse manager is utilizing effective strategies. The unit has high levels of patient satisfaction regarding care. Being well-staffed and having high levels of patient satisfaction are characteristics associated with magnet-designated hospitals, and this finding suggests the nurse manager is utilizing effective strategies.

A newly hired nurse manager is unsure of how to address conflicting issues with subordinates, many of whom are older than the nurse manager and who seem to be opinionated and sometimes aggressive. Which action should the nurse manager take?

Work with the staff to identify the source of conflict and come to a resolution and earn their respect Quickly addressing the problem by discussing issues with the staff members will show that the nurse leader is confident and cares about the staff. This will lead to an increase in the level of respect the new nurse leader receives.