Experiences of the fairness of recruitment from unsuccessful applicants in the field of nursing.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of unsuccessful applicants for permanent nursing positions with regard to the fairness of the recruitment process.


BACKGROUND
The international shortage of recruits in nursing and the rapidly increasing number of nurses retiring implies new challenges for recruitment. The nurses' experiences of fairness affect the availability of nurses and the attractiveness of the organization. The recruitment process is approached through traditional organizational justice theories.


METHODS
The material was gathered from thematic interviews with 12 nurses who had applied for a permanent nursing position but were not selected. The material was analysed using theory-driven content analysis.


RESULTS
The nurses felt differently about the result of the recruitment process. The experience of distributive justice alone was not significant in terms of the general sense of justice, since other dimensions of justice compensated for it. The effect of applicants' experiences of fair treatment in the recruitment process affected their future behaviour positively, negatively or not at all.


CONCLUSIONS
and implications for nursing management It is crucial to recognize applicants' experiences of the fairness of the recruitment process, because unsuccessful applicants constitute a pool of potential new employees. Furthermore, applicants with different experiences cannot be seen as a homogenous group. For example, internal applicants with negative experiences pose challenges for nursing management with regard to retaining them in the organization.
Kanerva
Anne
A
Central Finland Health Care District, Kangasvuori Hospital, Huhta, 40340 Jyvaskyla, Finland. anne.kanerva@ksshp.fi
Lammintakanen
Johanna
J
Kivinen
Tuula
T
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007586:Job Application; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009726:Nurses / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012935:Social Justice