Nurse recruiting in 2026 must go beyond what CNOs are used to.
In an era of unprecedented workforce shortages, rising patient acuity, and evolving care models, CNOs must go beyond traditional hiring practices to build resilient, high-performing nursing teams.
The Winning Edge for Recruiting the Best Nurse Team webinar included four experts on the subject: Michelle Watson, MSN, RN, CENP, chief nurse executive and senior vice president, clinical operations at Lifepoint Health; Jeff Alvarez, chief nursing officer, vice president of patient care services at UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene; Heather Ambrose, chief nursing officer at Allegheny General Hospital; and Vi-Anne Antrum, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-NC, CENP, FACHE, systemwide chief nursing officer and SVP at Cone Health.
Here are some nurse recruiting do's and dont's, according to the panelists.
Read the accompanying article here.
G Hatfield is the CNO editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
CNOs should build social capital and establish relationships in nursing and beyond to interdisciplinary partners.
Nurse leaders must be intentional about creating culture within the organization and listen to nurses.
CNOs should stop chasing short term fixes, since they will not solve long term shortages and gaps.