Posting a job for CRNAs who get bombarded with jobs constantly is no small matter in this extremely competitive market. Recruitment teams need to stand out to attract the talent they need. Too often, job descriptions are too vague, too long, or simply too unclear. To connect with high-yielding potential candidates, your job descriptions need to be precise, transparent, and optimized for the CRNA’s perspective—Otherwise you get leads that waste your time and turn into nothing.
Here are the most common pitfalls employers make when posting CRNA job openings:
1. Lack of Clarity in Compensation
While it may seem obvious, one of the most critical aspects of a CRNA job description is clear compensation. Compensation ranges, incentives, and bonuses should not be buried in the text and should not have complicated structures. CRNAs need to know what they can expect to earn and how additional work (such as call or overtime) will be compensated. Job seekers value transparency and will often skip a posting that doesn’t outline this information upfront.
What works: Include a specific salary range or hourly rate and mention how additional work, such as overtime or call, impacts pay. If you’re offering other incentives like performance bonuses, make sure those are front and center and live at the top of your description.
2. Unclear Work Hours and Call Expectations
Many CRNAs seek a balance between work and life, and they have a variety of options to find that, so it’s essential to make expectations about work hours and on-call requirements crystal clear. It’s not enough to simply mention that a position requires call shifts or weekends; candidates want to know how often these are required, how they are compensated, and whether there’s flexibility. A rigid schedule can deter many CRNAs who value flexibility and high pay above all else.
What works: Concisely spell out the work hours, go home order, call expectations, and how vacation works.
3. Transparency of Responsibilities
Vague descriptions that simply state “CRNAs will perform X duties” or “CRNA will collaborate in a team” don’t provide enough information. CRNAs want to know exactly what procedures they will be working on, whether they’ll be working independently or with an anesthesiologist, and what the environment will be like. Describing the types of cases (e.g., cardiac, orthopedic, trauma) can be highly appealing to CRNAs who have specific expertise or preferences.
What works: Include specific examples of the types of surgeries or procedures the CRNA will be involved with. Clarify whether the role is independent or if they will be working as part of a team. If in a team, what are the team dynamics?
4. Brevity and Formatting
Descriptions that lack formatting, are too long or wordy often lead to candidate fatigue. CRNAs are busy professionals and are unlikely to spend time deciphering lengthy descriptions. Use clear headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to make your job posting easy to read and scan. Prioritize the most important information—compensation, hours, and responsibilities—at the beginning, and avoid overly detailed or irrelevant information.
What works: Keep the description concise but complete. Use bullet points and headings to break up sections like compensation, job responsibilities, and work environment. Lokum App lets you do this easily and we’ll keep improving how that works.
5. Not Addressing Work Environment or Flexibility
The work environment can be more important than the job duties themselves. CRNAs want to know whether they’ll be working in a hospital, surgery center, as part of a rotating team, etc. They also need to understand if there’s room for flexibility in their schedule and whether they’ll have opportunities for professional growth. Offering flexibility, such as week on/week off roles, rotating schedules, or locum opportunities (at much lower costs through Lokum App), can make a position more attractive.
What works: Describe the environment in which the CRNA will work and the important elements that comes with the role.
How to Improve Your CRNA Job Descriptions
To attract top talent, make sure your CRNA job descriptions:
- Clearly outline compensation and benefits: Be transparent about the salary, call stipends, bonuses, and any other incentives.
- Clearly communicate work hours and on-call expectations: Detail the hours, call frequency, and how call is compensated.
- Be transparent about responsibilities: Specify which surgeries, cases, and responsibilities the CRNA will have.
- Make your job descriptions concise: Use headings, bullet points, and avoid lengthy paragraphs.
- Highlight the work environment and flexibility: Provide insight into whether the role is hospital-based, locum, or offers a flexible schedule.
Want to learn how to craft better offers for CRNAs? Join Lokum App and let our customer success team help you.