Recruiting healthcare providers, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Family Physicians, is a strategic and ongoing process that requires intention, visibility, and clarity. In British Columbia, where demand for primary care providers continues to grow, clinics must take a proactive and transparent approach to attract qualified professionals who align with their values and patient needs, in any capacity such as permanent full time/ part time or locums.
Successful recruitment goes beyond simply posting a job. it involves showcasing your clinic’s culture, operations, and commitment to fair employment. Providers are seeking workplaces that offer not only clinical opportunity but also respect, collaboration, and transparency. This section offers some tips and practical strategies that may help clinic recruit suitable providers.
Tips for Provider Recruitment
Where to Focus Recruitment Efforts
Recruitment efforts should be ongoing and multi-platform. Relying solely on word of mouth is not enough. Many clinics report difficulty finding providers but haven’t posted their vacancy publicly.
To maximize visibility:
- Craft a thoughtful job description and post it on industry related job boards:
- Connect with the NNPBC Provincial Regional Leadership Team (PRLT) member for your region. They can help inform others of the opportunity and /or connect you with those looking for a place to practice.
- Your local Division of Family Practice site (or share with the Division team if they don’t post externally). Most Divisions have a recruitment and retention team that can be a great resource in your recruitment efforts.
- Ensure the job positng is also available at your own clinic website (which should be updated to represent the current clinic information)
- Consider broader platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, or local classifieds. These may attract less targeted traffic but can still be useful for expanding reach.
What to Include in Your Posting
A well-crafted job posting, introduces both the position and your clinic. It should include the following details to help candidates make informed decisions:
- Full-time or part-time expectations
- Clinic address and location; if available the link to the clinic website
- Clinic size (number of providers, staff, and approximate square footage)
- Accessibility (transit options, parking availability)
- Remuneration structure (this is critical—if not listed, indicate that details are available upon request and be prepared to discuss them clearly and transparently)
- Clinic EMR system
- Scheduling availability
- Available resources (number of exam rooms, MOA support, etc.)
- Leadership opportunities
- Medical staff responsibilities
- Vacation coverage and support
- Access to office or shared space
- Additional perks or benefits
- Contact person for inquiries
Note: Offering a clinic visit to interested candidates can help build trust and familiarity. Additionally, having a current provider available to speak with candidates can offer valuable insight into the clinic’s culture and operations.
Why Your Clinic is The Right Fit
Recruitment is not just about filling a vacancy—it’s about finding the right fit. To attract providers who will thrive in your clinic:
- Share your mission and values to connect with candidates who resonate with your approach to care
- Describe the community of patients you serve
- Showcase your clinic culture with real examples (e.g., “We host an annual summer BBQ for staff” or “We’re currently leading a QI initiative on chronic disease management”)
- Emphasize your commitment to fairness and respect (e.g., “We pay our MOA staff a living wage in our community”)
- Providers are motivated by meaningful work at a clinic with a positive culture and environments. Take the opportunity, in your recruitment materials, to share what makes your clinic unique, and a great place to work.
Contract Templates
Establishing clear, fair, and legally sound contracts is essential when recruiting Nurse Practitioners (NPs) into primary care settings. In British Columbia, standardized contract templates have been developed to support clinics and NPs in forming service agreements that reflect provincial guidelines, promote transparency, and foster sustainable working relationships.
To assist with this process, the NNPBC provides key resources:
- Considering a contract
- Practice Level Contracts
- Guidelines for Hiring Nurse Practitioners with Provisional Registration
NP members of NNPBC can review the NP PCN contract here. If your clinic is interested in hiring Family Physicians, Doctors of BC’s agreement templates can guide your negotiations.
These contract templates do not represent legal advice. It is important to not rely solely on these contract templates and seek legal advice from a lawyer with a relevant and focused practice on contract law.
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