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Writing effective healthcare job descriptions starts with a deep understanding of the position’s specific needs. Healthcare roles are diverse. Some also involve direct patient care, and some involve administrative functions. So, each role has unique requirements that must be explained thoroughly.
The healthcare industry faces a significant skill shortage due to the aging population, increasing high demand for healthcare services, burnout among healthcare professionals, and the limited capacity of medical and nursing schools. Hence, intense competition for top talent makes it difficult for healthcare facilities to fill critical roles:
- Top-tier healthcare specialists have higher expectations. Therefore, they can choose from multiple opportunities. They can also be picky about employers and job offers.
- Organizations are compelled to offer competitive salaries, benefits, and work-life balance. This puts pressure on recruiters.
- Prolonged vacancies in critical roles can increase the workload of existing medical staff, which can affect patient care quality and also create potential legal risks.
Importance of Well-Crafted Job Descriptions in Healthcare
Creating a well-crafted job description in healthcare is essential because it directly impacts the quality of patient care and the hiring process. It also impacts the overall operational efficiency of healthcare organizations:
- A clear and detailed job description helps attract qualified candidates who meet the role’s specific requirements. This saves time and money and also reduces the number of unqualified candidates.
- Healthcare roles come with critical responsibilities. Therefore, by clearly stating the job’s daily duties, you can avoid misunderstandings and reduce hiring mismatches.
- Healthcare practice is rapidly changing with new technologies and developments. So, job descriptions must reflect these updates to ensure you hire candidates adept with these latest technologies.
- Many medical positions require specific educational backgrounds, certifications, or licenses. Therefore, you must specify these credentials in your job description to comply with regulatory and legal requirements.
How to Write Job Descriptions for Healthcare Jobs
1. Understand the Specific Needs of the Role
In your healthcare job postings, explain the position’s unique responsibilities, goals, and scope:
- Purpose – is the role focused on patient care, diagnostic work, or company operations? You must customize your job descriptions for different departments (e.g., critical care, outpatient services, or long-term care).
Dr Lea McMahon, Chief Clinical Officer at Symetria Recovery, stressed the most important thing is to remember the purpose of your job description. She said,
“You want to attract the best applicants, but more than that, they need to be the right candidates for the role. It can help to create a clear idea of the person you want to connect with. What skills am I looking for? What traits? These are the things you need to hold in your mind.”
She noted that purpose helps you be clear, intentional, and informed when you create your description, which is vital. She said,
“Your candidate needs to get a sense of who you are and exactly what you’re looking for when they read it.”
Example:
As an Emergency Medicine Physician, you will formulate diagnoses, direct or perform appropriate therapeutic treatment, and counsel patients.
The Lead Patient Access Representative is the primary clinical point of contact for patients accessing the hospital system for appointments and care-related questions.
- Key responsibilities – listing the responsibilities helps candidates understand their primary duties. So, to do this, break down daily tasks and long-term responsibilities.
Example:
Measure vital signs, height/weight, and head circumference (Pediatrics only), record results, and report findings to licensed professional.
Provides guidance and participates in the teaching of house staff, in staff conferences, and in research projects as directed.
- Specify the scope of practice – Job seekers must understand the boundaries of their responsibilities. So, in your job description, define what the role covers and does not cover. For instance, a certified nursing assistant may provide basic patient care but cannot administer medication.
Example:
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) will provide bedside care, administer medications as prescribed, and assist in patient documentation under physician supervision.
- Specify patient population experience – different roles may involve working with unique patient groups, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or critical care. Also, highlight experience with specific populations if relevant. Use precise terms (e.g., “neonatal” vs. “pediatric”).
Example:
Experience working in pediatric oncology or with neonatal intensive care patients is highly desirable.
- Align with departmental needs – each department has unique workflows and challenges. So, consult with the hiring manager or department head to ensure role alignment.
Example:
The Emergency Room Nurse will manage acute patient care in a high-pressure environment, prioritizing quick decision-making and trauma stabilization.
2. Highlight Required Skills and Qualifications
State the must-have skills, certificates, and licenses so only qualified medical professionals will apply, and your screening time will be reduced.
- Separate required from preferred qualifications. This distinction helps prioritize candidates with minimum requirements while encouraging those with additional skills to apply.
Example:
Patient Care Associate – Emergency Services
Minimum Qualifications:
Holds, or obtains through facility orientation, a valid and current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association (AHA).
Departmental Preferences:
Understands basic first aid and CPR and is capable of administering them if need be
- Clearly state the required degree and field of study (e.g., BSN, MD, or associate degree in radiologic technology). Most healthcare roles require a specific degree to ensure foundational knowledge.
Example:
Graduate from an accredited school of nursing
High School Diploma/GED
- Include licenses, certificates, or permits to comply with regulations. Include renewal or ongoing education requirements if applicable.
Example:
Clinical Ops Nurse Coordinator III, LVN
License/Certifications:
- BLS from the American Heart Association and/or the American Red Cross required
- Intravenous/Blood Withdrawal Certification is required within one year of hire date
- Current and valid California LVN License required
- Highlight technical skills or usage of equipment, software, and techniques that candidates need to be proficient in. List any necessary technical competencies, such as operating diagnostic machines or using electronic health record (EHR) systems.
Example:
Proficiency in operating 2D Echocardiography, Radiography, 4D Ultrasound, or Vascular Ultrasound equipment.
- Interpersonal skills, such as communication, empathy, and teamwork, are critical for successful patient recovery and medical procedures. Soft skills that align with patient care and collaboration should also be mentioned.
Patrick McClure, HR Manager & Co-Founder of WINIT Clinic, also notes soft skills in job descriptions. He said,
“I also focus on soft skills, such as empathy, communication, and flexibility, that frequently prove just as important as technical knowledge in health care.”.
Example:
- Must be detail-oriented, organized, and able to work with minimal supervision
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Hardworking and trustworthy
- Responsible and reliable
- Include any legal or compliance requirements to avoid any legal complications or lawsuits. Specify if the role requires compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, or state-specific regulations.
Example:
Manager, Operations – Medical Records Retrieval
- Maintain privacy of all patient, employee and volunteer information and access such information only on a need to know basis for business purposes
- Maintain current and annual HIPAA certification
3. Specify Experience and Expertise Levels
Indicate the desired experience level (e.g., entry-level, mid-career, senior-level) and any experience in specific healthcare settings (e.g., hospitals, clinics, home care). Include any specific experience required, such as surgical experience, ICU, or knowledge of specialized equipment like ventilators or dialysis machines. This will also help candidates assess whether they are suitable for the position.
Examples:
Minimum 2 years in ICU setting
Experience in oncology care is required
The ideal candidate has 5+ years of trauma care experience and ventilator management proficiency.
4. Be Transparent About Work Environment and Expectations
- Mention details such as shift patterns (e.g., 12-hour shifts, night shifts), weekend/holiday work, or on-call requirements.
Example:
Medical Assistant or EMT Paramedic or LPN
In this full-time, 0.9 FTE role, you’ll work closely with patients and healthcare professionals, supporting our mission to provide exceptional care to our community.
Schedule:
Monday: 7:30 AM – 6:45 PM
Tuesday: 7:15 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 7:15 AM – 4:00 PM
Registered Nurse (RN)
Must commit to two 4 hour shifts from 7:00PM-11:00PM and two 8 hour shifts from 3:00PM-11:00PM per week. Must also be willing to commit to weekend and holiday rotations. This is a part-time position with a set schedule.
- Include physical demands such as lifting patients, standing for long periods, or working in high-pressure environments like the ER.
Example:
Registered Nurse Residency – ER
The job requires constant standing, frequently walking, and bending/stooping. Proficient communicative, auditory, and visual skills. Attention to detail and ability to write legibly. Ability to lift/push/pull 100 lbs. For any weight over 35 lbs., use Safe Handling Equipment.
- Describe the workplace culture and team structure. Also, provide information into how staff interact with patients, families, and colleagues in the healthcare setting.
Example:
RN – NICU, Full Time Nights
There is something new to learn every day in our 41 bed, Level 3, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We focus not only on caring for our tiny patients, but also on the family as a whole. We partner with our teammates in the labor and delivery unit to deliver safe and compassionate care to our families from delivery to discharge. Teamwork, adaptability and resilience are a must to thrive in the NICU.
• Patient acuity ranges from critically ill to stable
• Patient nurse ratios range from 3:1 to 1:1
5. Include Salary, Benefits, and Advancement Opportunities
- State the salary range. Transparency builds trust.
- Specify the employee benefits and perks. Competitive benefits attract top talent.
- Highlight opportunities for career progression, such as pathways to specialized roles or leadership positions
Example:
Clinical Specialist – Endoscopy
Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$95,000 – $105,000
The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).
RN – NICU, Full Time Nights
Incentives:
- Experienced Nurse Sign on Bonus up to $10,000 for select departments
- Stay Premium Program
- Education Assistance
- Tuition Reimbursement $2,000 per year
- Day-One comprehensive medical, dental & vision insurance
- PTO/Vacation Time
- Employer-Matched Retirement Funds
- Shift Differentials
Custom Templating & Automation to Streamline Job Posting
Creating effective healthcare job descriptions can be time-consuming and requires attention to detail. Healthcare jobs are complex, and there are too many compliance requirements. There is also an urgent need to attract highly skilled healthcare workers.
That’s where custom templates and automation tools can be hugely helpful. They can simplify and improve recruitment procedures by ensuring job descriptions are clear, consistent, and also optimized for target candidates:
- Custom templates can standardize the structure and content of your healthcare job descriptions. So, each job posting includes essential sections like qualifications, responsibilities, licenses, certifications, and compliance requirements. For example, a template for Nurses can automatically include fields like “Active RN license” and “BLS/ACLS certification,” ensuring uniformity across all postings for similar roles.
- Automation can significantly reduce the time needed to create postings. Templates are already pre-filled with role-specific data, such as department needs, location details, and standard job duties.
- Role-specific templates ensure that unique responsibilities and qualifications are clearly outlined, while automation allows for the dynamic insertion of job-specific details. For instance, a Pediatric Nurse template can include tailored language such as “Experience in neonatal care preferred,” while an Emergency Room Nurse template emphasizes “ability to handle high-pressure situations.”
- Automation tools can analyze language for inclusivity and readability. They can highlight racist or sexist words and recommend alternatives to make them more engaging and accessible. So, An automation tool might flag gendered terms like “rockstar nurse” and suggest more neutral options such as “exceptional nurse.”
- Automation allows for collaboration among HR, hiring managers, and compliance teams to review and approve healthcare job descriptions.
How to Make Healthcare Job Descriptions Inclusive
Creating inclusive healthcare job descriptions is key to attracting a diverse pool of qualified candidates, from nurse practitioners to healthcare administrators. Therefore, inclusive language ensures that potential candidates feel welcome, valued, and capable of succeeding in the specific role you’re advertising. So, here’s how to make it happen.
Use Gender-Neutral Language in Your Healthcare Job Descriptions
Avoid gendered terms like “he” or “she” in your job summary. Instead, use neutral phrases such as “the candidate” or “the applicant.” For instance, instead of “The nurse will provide care to his patients,” write, “The vocational nurse will provide quality care to patients.” This simple shift ensures inclusivity while maintaining clarity.
Focus on Skills, Not Physical Demands in Your Healthcare Job Descriptions
When describing the specific tasks of roles like home health aide or physical therapists, avoid unnecessary references to physical capabilities. So, instead of saying, “Must be able to lift 50 pounds,” you could write, “This role may involve assisting patients with everyday activities such as mobility support.” This change ensures the job description template doesn’t exclude capable individuals who may use adaptive tools.
Highlight Transferable Skills in Your Healthcare Job Descriptions
Be open to candidates from different career backgrounds. For instance, prior experience in roles like massage therapists or dental hygienist can bring valuable skills to the healthcare sector. Emphasizing soft skills such as organizational skills, empathy, and communication in detailed job descriptions can also attract more quality potential candidates.
Avoid Jargon and Acronyms in Your Healthcare Job Descriptions
Medical jargon can be intimidating for some job seekers, even in the healthcare field. For example, instead of listing “EMR proficiency” for electronic medical record tasks, spell it out and explain its relevance to the specific role. So, this approach ensures that even those new to the healthcare field have a clear understanding of the role and its expectations.
Use Inclusive Terms in Your Healthcare Job Descriptions
Replace exclusionary phrases with more welcoming ones. Here are a few examples:
- Instead of “native English speaker,” write “proficient in written and spoken English.”
- Write “able to perform specific tasks related to patient care,” instead of “physically fit,”
- Instead of “experienced medical doctors,” write “professionals with a medical degree or equivalent.”
This way, job seeker candidates like respiratory therapists, forensic pathologists, or clinical research coordinators will feel your healthcare worker job descriptions are accessible to them.
Highlight Inclusive Benefits in Your Healthcare Job Descriptions
Mention perks that appeal to a wide range of people, such as flexible schedules, support for medical education, or palliative care training opportunities. Inclusive compensation packages and benefits encourage a strong candidate pool from diverse backgrounds to apply. Thus, ensuring you attract the right people for roles like healthcare support worker or medical transcriptionists.
Why I Wrote This
Crafting effective healthcare job descriptions requires precision and clarity while also appealing to candidates in a highly competitive talent market. So, job description software incorporating custom templating and automation tools can ensure an efficient and equitable hiring process. Contact us for more information.
