When crafting a job description for a healthcare role, consider the amount of clinical experience that’s truly necessary to do the job well. From entry-level nurses to established Directors of Nursing, candidates expect to see a version of this non-negotiable requirement at the very top: “At least three to five years of experience” in a particular healthcare setting.
Of course, hiring managers should be selective about qualified candidates. However, by requiring several years of experience right off the bat, they could be missing out on an entire pool of eager, teachable healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, who have the ability to be taught certain clinical skills and procedures in-house.
For example, if a candidate is employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) while simultaneously going to school to earn a Registered Nurse (RN) degree, they might feel discouraged upon achieving their RN when positions are requiring multiple years of RN experience to start out.
On paper, this candidate would seem like only an established CNA, and would likely get passed up by the employer. But they put in years of hard work and dedication to further their education and expertise and passed clinicals and the NCLEX exam.
Sure, they won’t have the extensive experience of a veteran nurse, but if they have people skills and the drive to succeed, they could be just as great of a fit for the job. Take a chance on this person by giving them a call for an initial interview. There are benefits to hiring someone who is less experienced.
If you’re working with a candidate who is fresh out of school or who has only one or two years of experience in a particular role, emphasize that your organization is staffed with experts who are patient and willing to teach hard skills.
When you take the time to train someone appropriately, it is beneficial for all parties involved:
Whether you’re looking for a Director of Nursing (DON) or a nurse supervisor, don’t be so quick to dismiss the underdog. Remember, combining hard and soft skills is key to providing excellent patient care and fostering a positive work environment. A strong nurse with only two or three years of leadership experience may be just as stellar as a candidate with the traditional “five or more years of experience required.”
Bottom line: Don’t let experience serve as the end-all, be-all factor for the hiring process.
Be open to taking newbies in and shaping them into excellent employees who can serve as future leaders within your company.