Does this job fit? Clinical rotations as "tryouts" for students

Area of Science:

• Medical Laboratory Science
• Clinical Laboratory Management
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Clinical laboratory managers face persistent challenges in recruiting graduates from medical laboratory science programs.
• Published data indicates that 44% of laboratories struggle with recruitment and hiring of medical laboratory professionals.
• Understanding factors influencing new graduates' employment decisions is crucial for effective recruitment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the specific factors influencing Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) graduates' decisions to accept or decline employment offers.
• To identify key incentives beyond compensation that impact recruitment success for new MLS graduates.
• To provide actionable insights for laboratories aiming to attract scarce new talent.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of factors influencing Medical Laboratory Science graduates' employment decisions.
• Analysis of incentives affecting acceptance or rejection of job offers at various laboratory sites.
• Focus on understanding the decision-making process of recent MLS graduates.

Main Results:

• While compensation is a consideration, it is not the sole determinant for new graduates.
• Successful recruitment hinges on additional incentives, including robust training and comprehensive benefits.
• Investment in clinical rotation training significantly influences graduates' choices.

Conclusions:

• Laboratories must offer more than competitive salaries to attract Medical Laboratory Science graduates.
• Comprehensive benefits packages and substantial investment in student training during clinical rotations are critical.
• Hospital-based laboratories should increase their engagement in the clinical rotation process to improve recruitment outcomes.