Graduation to orientation

Written By Molly Weaver

As caps and gowns appear on campuses nationwide, 92,000 new nursing graduates and 32,000 allied health professionals are making critical first-job decisions. April offers a strategic window before the May-June graduation crush:

  • Offer tiered loan repayment programs

  • Structure tuition assistance for continued specialization certifications with no waiting period

  • Implement “Final Semester Connect” programs with immediate sign-on bonuses to secure commitments before graduation

  • Create “Summer Transition” cohorts with May-July start dates that accommodate licensing timelines

Jefferson Health saw 87% acceptance rates by offering flexible start dates throughout the summer plus $10K in student loan assistance. Cleveland Clinic’s “Education at Work” program, which covers additional certifications from day one, produces 23% higher retention after three years.

The reality? By graduation day, 68% of healthcare students have already accepted their first position, with financial burden relief ranking as their #1 decision factor. Those waiting until diploma day to recruit—or offering standard benefits packages—are missing the peak of the new talent wave.

Molly Weaver
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