Most of the hospitals have full-time recruiters to find nurses. Providence Hospital also has a recruitment and retention committee, said Julie Hill, a registered nurse and nurse recruiter. Hospitals offer a number of incentives and benefits to recruit and retain nurses. The hospitals cultivate relationships with schools such as USC and Midlands Tech to encourage nursing interns to apply for jobs after graduation. Experienced nurses can receive sign-on bonuses, and nurses moving from outside the area can get relocation assistance.
Hospitals have mentor programs pairing new nurses with experienced nurses.
They also have scholarships and tuition assistance for nurses wishing to further their education. Hospitals also are starting their recruiting efforts earlier. Palmetto Health Alliance, in partnership with the Central Midlands Tech Prep Consortium, allows students from the eighth grade up to shadow nurses, said Willis Gregory, senior vice president of human resources. The hospital also offers scholarships for nursing students.