Abstract

Background: In the face of recruitment problems, managers are becoming increasingly proactice by introducing novel initiatives designed to encourage newly qualified nurses to apply to their institutions and catchment areas for employment. Aims and methods: Based on a multimethod survey of students from two British universities, this paper explores their perceptions of three very different initiatives, each at different stages of development and implementation ('Home Trust', 'On Secondment' and the 'Recruitment Clearing House' initiatives). Results: Students held strong views on the positive and negatives features of both current and prospective initiatives. Unique consumer insights were gained, particularly into their finer detail and consequences. Conclusion: Student experiences and perceptions are valuable in the planning, implementation and review stages of local recruitment initiatives.