Talent Link asked Mary Seaman, a 1995 VA scholarship recipient and current Director of Staff Relations with the Tampa VA, about some of the tactics she’s implemented. "We promote ourselves so people choose to come to VA," Seaman said. "[But] you have to tailor your marketing to the community."

Seaman provided examples of how she has maintained high employee morale and kept the community aware of VA as a high-quality establishment within the structure of traditional recruitment and retention tools:

• Outdoor Signage - Seaman has established a permanent sign on the hospital grounds next to the main road. On the sign, she features a nurse or nurses along with a positive statement on a monthly basis.
• Open Houses - At the last open house, Tampa brought in a violin player to add elegance to the proceedings.
• Career Fairs - At two career fairs, Seaman brought in relevant celebrities such as veteran advocate Heather Renee French, Miss America 2000, whose father is a disabled Vietnam veteran, and renowned jazz musician Herbie Mann, who fought a long battle with prostate cancer.

How do these efforts affect retention and recruiting? In 2003, the Tampa VA was re-designated with Magnet status by the American Nursing Credentialing Center. The Atlanta VA expects to submit its Magnet application sometime next year. Magnet status signifies, among other things, that the hospital is dedicated to providing quality care to its patients and a quality work environment for its employees.