How to Write an Eyecatching Ad for a Nursing Job

Write an ad that will attract quality candidates to fill your open nursing position.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nurses, the United States is experiencing a major nursing shortage. Because of this, highly qualified nurses can be difficult to find. When attempting to fill a nursing position, the competition for good help is stiff. Just getting them to apply for your open position is half the battle. Writing an eye catching ad for a nursing job is much like writing an ad for any other job opening. However, unlike many career fields where there are more applicants than there are jobs, writing a good employment ad for a nursing job means attracting as many applicants as possible.

Instructions

1. 

   The competition for good nurses is stiff.

   Describe the open nursing position in as much detail as possible. Give prospective applicants a chance to determine whether they are truly interested in the position. There are a great number of nursing fields to choose from, and many applicants will be interested in only specific types of positions. If applicants must call to find out what type of opening you have, they will be far less likely to apply for the position at all.

2. 

   List the minimum skills required.

   Provide a list of the minimum skills required. Be specific about what types of education and experience the nursing applicants must have. Often, just listing these basic requirements will help you attract more qualified applicants. You should also list all software and equipment training the position requires.

3. 

   Check your grammar and spelling.

   Check your grammar. Make sure your punctuation and spelling are accurate. Get a second pair of eyes to look over your ad and make sure there are no glaring mistakes.

4. 

   A pop of color can help grab attention.

   Add a visual element to your ad. Whenever possible, you should use graphics or other images that will grab the job searcher's eye as he or she scans through the classified pages. Solid text can be boring, making your ad easy to pass over. But a pop of color can draw the reader right into your ad.

5. 

   Read the ad as though you were a nurse looking for work.

   Read the article with a fresh set of eyes. Put the ad aside for a day and let it simmer. When you come back to it, put yourself in the position of a nurse who is looking for his dream job. Ask yourself what you might be looking for in an ad. Is the wording clear? Does it answer all of the questions you would have about a possible job? Would it grab your attention if you were flipping through the classified section?

References

• The Job Market: Writing and Placing Job Advertisements
• AACN: Nursing Shortage