Creating a high-quality job description is essential for attracting talented CNAs and LVNs to fill your per-diem shifts. Job postings with high quality descriptions are up to 10% more likely to get filled.
Here are a few tips to help you create high quality job postings:
Use welcoming language and highlight perks
In order to set a positive tone and entice potential candidates, it's important to use welcoming language and highlight the perks of working at your facility.
One effective way to do this is to mention any additional benefits that your organization offers, such as free lunch, or free parking. These added perks can help make your job posting stand out from others and show that your organization values its nurses.
Clearly outline job responsibilities
In addition to mentioning the perks of working at your facility, it's also crucial to clearly describe the responsibilities of the position. This will help nurses understand what is expected of them and ensure that they have the necessary skills and experience to succeed in the role.
For CNAs, give examples of activities they will need to perform on the shift such as
Assisting with bathing, dressing, and grooming
Taking vital signs, and helping patients move around the facility.
Meal preparation and feeding
Assisting with medications and other daily tasks. (Based on state regulations)
For LVN, clarify the complex nursing tasks you expect them to perform on the shift such as:
IV administration, maintenance, and monitoring
Specialized care you expect LVNs to provide for patients with chronic conditions
Conduct patient assessments
Provide your pro-to-patient ratio and shift staffing details
Another important aspect of creating a high-quality job description is to specify the number of patients that a CNA or LVN will be directly responsible for on their shift. This information will give nurses a sense of the workload they can expect and help them determine if the position is a good fit for them.
To provide a more comprehensive picture of the shift, it is important to not only include the ratio of nurses to patients, but also provide details about the other staff members they will be working with and how responsibilities will be distributed among the team. This will allow pros to get a sense of the overall team dynamic and how their role fits within it.
Here are a few examples illustrating how much staffing models vary across SNFs.