[A recruitment strategy for nursing students]

The growing shortage of nurses is a universal problem. In the Republic of South Africa there are increasing changes in the number of students who enter nursing as a career. At the same time there is an increase in the intensity of services, with the result that the supply exceeds the demand. The present nursing shortage requires nursing as a profession to be marketed effectively to obtain the quality and quantity of candidates to ensure the continued existence of the profession. Effective marketing implies that a recruiting-medium cannot be decided on at random. A descriptive, contextual study, based on a literature study, was carried out by means of a questionnaire. Analysis of the data showed that the public lacks knowledge of nursing. An urgent need exists thus to provide information by means of a recruitment program. A recruitment strategy cannot consist of one medium alone, since each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. A combination of a few selected recruitment mediums are recommended. This strategy must be supported by the positive action of every nurse towards her profession.