Exacerbated by COVID-19, facilities are experiencing a new wave of recruitment and retention challenges. Some solutions may be found outside traditional recruitment tactics – like focusing on strategies that align with best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and those that provide mental health support for staff.

In the presentation, “Recruitment and Retention of Perioperative Nurses in the COVID Era,” sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, Deborah Ebert, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR, CRN-K, CPAN, CAPA, reminded Leadership Summit attendees that, prior to the pandemic, approximately one-third of nurses left the profession after two years. Retention is especially critical as it can take 115 days to recruit an experienced perioperative nurse and training costs about $120,000.

Ebert, who is associate vice-president of perioperative services at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center in Houston, believes nurse leaders are key in providing healthy work environments for perioperative nurses and suggests an environment that celebrates DEI, supports mental health and well-being, and cultivates resilience, are critical to successful recruitment and retention. These are also attributes that Millennials and GenZ workers often cite as important when choosing jobs.

Embrace DEI for Recruitment and Quality of Care

There currently is a significant lack of diversity in healthcare. Only 9.1% are male, 19.2% are minorities, and 4.1% identify at LGBTQ+. Inclusivity, said Ebert, “supports effective collaboration and the planning and implementation of culturally sensitive perioperative care of diverse populations.”

Provide Mental Health Support

COVID-19 brought a new level of responsibility to leaders.

Nurses were burned out, feeling unsupported by misinformed and uninformed family and peers, and uncertainty or mistrust in their facility’s ability to keep them safe. Ebert suggests leaders encourage staff to use employer-sponsored programs, offer programs that prevent and decrease anxiety and depression, and create a caregiver response team. She also emphasized the value of celebrating victories, and honoring, appreciating, and recognizing the work of their team members.

Develop Resilience

As the Delta variant continues its spread across the U.S., resilience may be key to coping with this new wave. “Resilience has been top of mind for all of us during this pandemic,” said Ebert. “The need for a strong and resilient workforce is more evident than ever.” To enhance retention of perioperative nurses, Ebert said interventions at the individual, departmental, and institutional levels are necessary.

If you are registered to attend the Leadership Summit, you can listen to Deb Ebert’s complete presentation in the on-demand library starting Aug. 10 through Sept. 24.