Nurses are the backbone of healthcare facilities, and they play a critical role in providing quality care to patients. In today’s healthcare industry, nurses are in high demand, making it essential for healthcare companies to retain their nursing staff. A crucial aspect of retaining nurses is understanding the benefits they desire.
The benefits nurses want in the workplace go well beyond competitive salaries and health insurance. Nurses also seek a positive work environment, professional development opportunities, and flexible scheduling. In this guide, we’ll explore the top benefits nurses want in the workplace, and how healthcare companies can create a workplace that attracts and retains high-quality nursing staff.
Competitive Compensation and Benefits
While we do say that healthcare staff want more than just competitive compensation and benefits, it would be silly to pretend as if they did not matter as factors. Both are critical for attracting and retaining high-quality nursing staff. Nurses want to be fairly compensated for their skills and experience. They also want access to quality health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid time off.
Healthcare companies can offer competitive salaries and benefits by conducting regular salary surveys to ensure they are paying industry-standard wages. They should also provide affordable health insurance options and retirement plans. Paid time off should be ample, and opportunities for paid sick leave and parental leave should be available.
A Positive Work Environment
A positive work environment is a top priority for nurses. They want to work in a facility that provides a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. The work environment should promote teamwork, respect, and open communication. Nurses also desire a workplace that offers opportunities for professional growth and development.
Healthcare companies can create a positive work environment by providing a comfortable and professional workplace. Facilities should have proper lighting and ventilation, comfortable seating areas, and quiet spaces for nurses to take a break. They should also promote professional development by offering continuing education opportunities, mentoring programs, and leadership training. They can continue this effort by offering programs that can support continued growth, such as offering tuition reimbursement programs, supporting certification courses, or opportunities to attend conferences or workshops.
Flexible Scheduling
Nurses often have personal responsibilities outside of work, such as family obligations or educational pursuits. Therefore, flexible scheduling is a valuable benefit nurses seek in the workplace. They desire a schedule that allows them to balance work and personal life.
Healthcare companies can offer flexible scheduling by providing self-scheduling options, including part-time or job-sharing positions. They can also offer alternative work arrangements such as telecommuting or compressed work weeks.
Safe Patient Care
Safe patient care is of high priority for nurses, and they want to work in a facility that prioritizes patient safety. They desire a workplace that equips them with the necessary tools and resources to provide quality care. Nurses also want access to on-the-job training and education that will enable them to keep up-to-date with the latest practices and technologies.
Healthcare companies can promote safe patient care by offering quality training and education programs. They can also invest in modern equipment and technologies that will improve patient care and safety. Resources such as safe patient handling equipment or electronic health records can enhance the quality of patient care provided by nurses.
Understanding the needs and wants of nurses is crucial in retaining valuable staff. If you are hiring healthcare and are looking for insight on how to hire the best candidates, connect with a recruiter here. If you are a healthcare provider, nurse or otherwise, then check out our job board here or send us an updated resume here and look for an opportunity that can offer all of this and more!
