How to Become a Nurse Recruiter

The demand for qualified nurses to fill open jobs continues to grow at an alarming rate, with a shortage of thousands of nurses expected within the next decade. One way that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are combating this growing problem is by hiring nurse recruiters to join their human resources staff. Individuals in this role have the sole responsibility of finding and enticing qualified applicants to work for their specific organization.

Instructions

• 1

  Gain work experience as a registered nurse. Most organizations require nurse recruiters to have experience working in the field as a registered nurse for a minimum of 3 to 5 years. In addition, some also require a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) instead of the associate's degree that many registered nurses get in order to begin working as soon as possible.

• 2

  Obtain knowledge of human resource policies and procedures. Switching from nursing to recruiting will require a lot of training, but healthcare facilities often seek to hire someone already familiar with some of the HR procedures. Take a course online that covers basic human resources management, or seek out someone in the human resources department to mentor and teach you what you need to know to get a job as a nurse recruiter.

• 3

  Maintain a professional appearance. A nurse recruiter is representing their healthcare facility, and should promote a professional workplace to prospective nurses. Although nurses come to work every day in scrubs and tennis shoes, there are ways to present yourself as looking professional, such as being neat and well-groomed. Management will notice if you take pride in your position, and this will play a factor in whether or not you get the job as a nurse recruiter.

• 4

  Show enthusiasm and support for your healthcare facility. Your job as a nurse recruiter is to get nurses excited about coming to work for your organization. This requires that you have a positive attitude and a great deal of enthusiasm for the place you work. You can increase your chances of becoming a nurse recruiter by being positive and always smiling when working with patients and other employees.