Pros and cons of a boomerang hire

Editor's Note

It is not unusual for a nurse to leave a health care system to try a different clinical setting, explore travel nursing, or move to administration or education. When this nurses comes back to the organization—known as a boomerang nurse hire—research suggests benefits as well as risks, according to an article in the December issue of Nurse Leader.

One benefit is that the nurse is already familiar with culture, systems, workflow and people, which can ease onboarding stress and lead to a smoother transition into the role. To this end, a boomerang nurse might be accepted into the team and the culture faster because they are already known.

There are relevant disadvantages of a boomerang hire to consider, per the article. One major risk is that old frustrations such as understaffing or lack of perceived support could fuel frustration and lead to the nurse moving away from the organization again. From a team perspective, strained relationships among the boomerang nurse and old colleagues could still be relevant and problematic.

To make the right choice with a boomerang nurse before re-hiring, the article suggested a close re-evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the nurse’s initial departure and asking openly why the nurse wants to return. As noted in the article: “a nurse who left for better pay but is returning for a better alignment in values brings a different, more positive energy than someone who felt forced out and is returning for the lack of other options.”

To leaders looking to make the right hiring decision, advice in the article suggested weighing emotional impulses against practical realities.