This CNE has advice on how to create and foster a more diverse workforce.
On this week’s episode of HL Shorts, we hear from Dr. D’Andre Carpenter, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Allina Health, about strategies to improve recruiting and retention efforts by including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles into the workplace culture.
What are some of the strategies CNOs can take to embed DEI into recruitment and retention culture?
I'm getting inspired by some work that I did at my previous system, [including] some [ideas] that we're talking about here at this system around promoting internal equity for team members that already exist in our organization.
We look at our supportive staff, our EVS transport, food and nutrition staff, that work elbow to elbow with our clinicians every day. A lot of them have aspirations of becoming clinicians, and [we look at if] we are being intentional about providing and setting up those pathway programs for them to be able to propel themselves into a clinical career, if that's what they desire to do. I think that's one that's just really low hanging fruit and easy, and it promotes internal equity in your organization.
You know, you're treating your family members that are local to your workforce as a part of the team and helping them grow their profession, [which is] another way to recruit and retain staff.
G Hatfield is the nursing editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
CNOs should consider promoting internal equity for team members.
Leaders must set up pathway programs or employees to advance their careers.
Achieving internal equity and treating team members like family will help recruitment and retention efforts.