A new survey of nearly 10,000 clinical students reveals missed opportunities by hospitals in the recruitment of soon-to-graduate nurses and allied health professionals. In addition, the research uncovered opportunities for better alignment between academic preparation and real-world clinical demands, while recognizing the positive impact preceptors and staff have on developing students’ clinical confidence.
With a projected shortage of 78,610 full-time equivalent registered nurses (RNs) by 2025 (Bureau of Health Workforce), the urgency to strengthen the clinical pipeline has never been greater. It’s not just about filling positions. It’s about preparing future clinicians to enter the workforce feeling confident, competent, and ready to deliver high-quality care from day one.
This report provides actionable strategies for how students, schools, and healthcare organizations can collaborate to meet students’ desires for earlier career commitments and to boost confidence and workforce readiness. From improving clinical rotation experiences to developing in-demand career skills, partnership is key to addressing today’s workforce challenges—and preparing tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.
Unlocking Career Opportunities in Clinical Rotations
Clinical rotations and the real-world clinical experiences they provide are key to developing students’ critical thinking, communication, and patient care skills. These same clinical rotations present a strategic lever for addressing workforce shortages, as they offer employers an untapped opportunity to engage future clinicians about career opportunities. However, a recent survey of nearly 10,000 students using myClinicalExchange by HealthStream revealed a glaring opportunity for organizations to engage students during their rotations:
- 79% of students were not contacted about job opportunities by their rotation facility.
- Over 77% of students did not have employment lined up after graduation.
Donut chart shows 78.7% of students were not contacted about jobs after rotations, highlighting missed recruitment opportunities in clinical settings.
These numbers highlight a missed opportunity for welcomed discussions with students about job opportunities upon graduation and licensure. Hospitals could build upon the primary learning objective of rotations by engaging future clinicians as part of their overall talent strategy, establishing early career discussions with students. Engaging students six months before graduation, identified as the ideal window by 34.9% of respondents, ensures they feel supported and connected to career pathways.
Pro Tip for Hospitals:
To maximize this recruitment opportunity:
- Initiate conversations about job openings and introduce employment pathways during clinical rotations.
- Leverage reports in myClinicalExchange, HealthStream’s clinical placement application, that identify students interested in being contacted for future job opportunities.
The Impact of Preceptors & Staff on Seamless Transitions
Survey data indicates that meaningful engagement from preceptors and hospital staff directly impacts a student’s confidence and readiness for the workforce. Here’s how their involvement makes a difference:
Preceptor Role
Students gave their preceptors positive ratings on traits such as encouragement, accessibility, and willingness to share valuable clinical knowledge. For example:
- 90% of students reported improved confidence after their most recent rotation.
- Undergraduate students were highly likely to recommend their preceptor – 8.8 out of 10 – especially when students felt the preceptor was eager to support their development and encouraged the students to ask questions.
These findings underscore the essential role preceptors play and the importance of continuing to use strategies that prove effective. Encouragement and accessibility to staff helps students feel supported, driving deeper engagement and skill development. With 90% reporting increased confidence after rotations, consistent, effective guidance remains vital.
How Hospitals Can Enhance Preceptor & Staff Impact:
- Provide preceptor training on non-clinical skills like communication and mentorship so they can model and share these skills with clinical students.
- Recognize and reward preceptors who go beyond clinical instruction to mentor students holistically.
- Encourage hospital staff to foster a culture of collaboration and learning that positively influences students.
Building Workforce-Ready, Confident Clinicians
Confidence underpins competence. Clinical rotations are a golden opportunity for healthcare organizations and educational institutions to shape future clinicians who are both confident and workforce ready. Activities that significantly impact clinical reasoning and professional identity among students include:
- Hands-On Care: Students gave an average rating of 8.8 out of 10 for having the opportunity to engage in direct patient care during rotations.
- Exposure to Diverse Cases: A wide range of patient care experiences was strongly correlated with the development of clinical reasoning skills.
Journaling and self-reflection further amplify learning, with 94% of students who journaled during rotations finding it valuable.
Two donut charts show 73.3% of students journaled during clinicals, and 94.3% of those found it helpful, highlighting journaling’s learning value
Action Plan for Schools:
- Promote reflective practices like journaling to develop critical thinking and professional identity.
- Offer learning opportunities on non-clinical areas like time management, communication, and teamwork to enhance soft skills, which almost 47% of students identified as crucial.
Matching Students with Meaningful Rotations
Clinical students benefit most from rotations in their areas of interest, but logistical concerns often dictate placement decisions. For example, 55% of students cited travel distance as the deciding factor for rotation selection, while 43% prioritized potential employment at the rotation facility.
Beyond these logistical considerations, schools and hospitals should prioritize matching students with placements that align with their specialty and career goals. Tailored rotations not only enhance learning but also increase retention and motivation.
Recommendations for Better Matches:
- Use data-driven tools like myClinicalExchange to identify placement trends and align students’ goals with rotation opportunities.
- Encourage pre-rotation meetings to set shared goals between students, preceptors, and schools.
Strengthening Collaboration Between Schools & Hospitals
The partnership between educational institutions and healthcare organizations is foundational to developing confident, workforce-ready clinicians. Continued collaboration between schools and hospitals is necessary to meet student and industry needs:
- Sharing student performance data that can inform both instruction and career guidance.
- Expanding curricula, either as required or supplemental learning, to better prepare students for real-world challenges.
- Standardize post-rotation follow-ups to include a debrief between preceptors and students, and incorporate discussions on communication and career opportunities, where appropriate.
- Create mentorship programs that span beyond rotations, offering long-term professional guidance.
A Call to Action for Hospitals, Schools & Students
The future of healthcare depends on addressing today’s workforce pipeline challenges with urgency, creativity, and collaboration. By strengthening the connection between educators and employers, from clinical rotations to hiring, institutions can better support transitions to the workplace for students.
It’s time to act. Hospitals and schools must champion early, meaningful conversations about career pathways and integrate them into the clinical rotation experience. With tools like myClinicalExchange by HealthStream, organizations have the opportunity to improve retention and build a skilled, engaged workforce for the future.
Explore Opportunities to Strengthen the Pipeline
Learn more about the latest strategies for preparing the next generation of clinicians. Watch our exclusive webinar or download the full research report for actionable insights and data-driven recommendations. Use code TRENDS100 to receive the $199 report for free.