Strategies for Nursing Leaders on Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Workforce

There are many benefits to diversity in nursing teams; for example, diverse teams are more cognitively diverse, innovative, collaborative, creative, and inclusive, and have more satisfied employees (Douma, 2017). Diversity includes variations in religion, ethnicity, personality traits, sexual orientation, gender identity, generational differences, socioeconomic status, and disability status. This article presents strategies that have been successful in hiring employees with varied backgrounds, recognizing that they bring unique values and professional goals. It also provides recommendations for retaining a diverse staff, including awareness of differences in the concept of time and of religious customs, promoting inclusivity in the team, initiating crucial conversations, and encouraging participation.