Rural healthcare facilities aren’t always the most sought-after positions in Georgia, or, for that matter, across the country. In fact, hiring nurses in rural Georgia and retaining healthcare staff presents a challenge that can have a detrimental and lasting impact on these communities. With that in mind, healthcare organizations that serve rural communities in Georgia must be strategic when competing with big-city healthcare providers.
When it comes to what rural facilities have to offer, compared to big-city healthcare providers, recruiting becomes a bit tricky. After all, hospitals, clinics, and other facilities in places like Atlanta may offer better pay, a busier and more diverse patient population, and the excitement of living in or near the big city.
Although there are occasional nurses who desire a quieter and more predictable environment in which to work, you can’t always count on location as a perk when hiring nurses in rural Georgia. That’s why we’ve compiled these top strategies for recruiting, hiring, and retaining nurses in rural Georgia.
The Benefits You Can Offer Nurses in Rural Georgia
In addition to highlighting the lifestyle benefits and financial advantages of living in a rural community, hiring nurses in rural Georgia involves enticing them in other ways. Below is a list of tried and true methods for healthcare organizations to pique the interest of nursing candidates. Incentivize your recruiting and hiring strategies by incorporating these methods.
Lifestyle, Purpose, and Professional Development
Many people are drawn to the lifestyle and community benefits of living in a rural area. The cost of living is much lower than it is in the big city, and rural Georgia is abundant in natural beauty. In smaller communities, people often know their neighbors, which brings not only a sense of safety but also social benefits.
For nurses who wish to truly make a difference, living in a close-knit community where you know your patients and can build relationships with them means a lot. And shining a light on these benefits may encourage those nurses to come your way.
Rural hospitals and healthcare facilities provide more opportunities for professional development. Let your candidates know they will have an easier time moving up the ladder professionally in leadership roles, and gain experience from which they can springboard.
Offer Financial Incentives
Obviously, big-city healthcare providers usually have deeper pockets. But that doesn’t always translate into better pay. Your rural Georgia healthcare organization can compete in other compensatory ways.
- Consider student loan repayment and forgiveness as a sure bet to entice recent grads.
- Provide a signing bonus.
- Offer assistance in their relocation.
- Help by offering a stipend for immediate living expenses.
- Make sure your benefits are competitive, including health, retirement, PTO, etc.
- Come as close as you can to the salary numbers your big-city competitors offer.
Support Your Nurses
Sometimes just knowing that your employer has your back is enough. Big city hospitals are often huge, management rotates, and nurses don’t always get the support they need. Highlight your support and flexibility when it comes to work-life balance. Opportunities for shorter shifts, flexible schedules, and PTO are invaluable to nurses. Don’t undersell these policies as high incentives.
Mentor assignments, preceptor programs, and frequently checking in with staff let your nurses know they aren’t some faceless number to those in leadership. Having a mentor or preceptor eases the stress of onboarding and fosters inclusion. Your nurses understand they are supported.
Meet regularly with your nurses. These check-ins allow you to find out where they’re at and if they are on track with their professional goals. This is an important facet of your organization’s support. Broaden the scope of practice so your nurses are able to learn and hone new skills through diverse responsibilities.
Nurses Make All The Difference
Quality nursing staff are vital to the health and well-being of any community. In rural Georgia, many healthcare providers struggle to maintain essential staff, and the impact on the community can be devastating. Care facilities shutter their doors, residents are forced to go further away to seek treatment, and in emergent situations, this can potentially cost lives.
If your healthcare organization is struggling to recruit, hire, and retain skilled and qualified nurses in rural Georgia, please reach out to BOS Medical Staffing for ways in which we can help.
