UK HR Health Care Recruiting hosts registered nurse interview event at Kroger Field

Photo provided.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 15, 2025) — University of Kentucky Human Resources Health Care Recruiting works year-round to recruit the best employees to UK. Recently it hosted its annual spring registered nurse (RN) interview event. The event is an opportunity for hiring managers to connect with new graduate nurses and experienced nurses and streamline the hiring process. 

McKaylee McKenzie is a May 2025 UK graduate from Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. She says she began working for UK HealthCare when she was a freshman at UK and knew UK was where she wanted to be post-graduation. 

“I want to work for this organization. I love what it stands for,” McKenzie said. “I love the values of UK, especially the teamwork and compassionate values that UK stands for. Those are my values as well.”

Dozens of units across UK HealthCare, including UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, UK King’s Daughters and UK St. Claire, interviewed hundreds of candidates virtually and in person. While the event has previously been held in various locations, this spring was the first time it was held at the Longship Club at Kroger Field.

“We have absolutely elevated the game of recruitment. Being here in this wonderful Longship Club is first class,” said recruiter Graig Casada. “It’s an incredible brand representation and the ambiance and the vibe is all about bringing in the best and brightest nurses into our workforce.”

Casada added that this spring’s candidates were of a high caliber and intent on being part of UK HealthCare. That was echoed by Kimberly Blanton, chief nursing officer for UK Chandler Hospital.

“Everyone that I’ve spoken to has just had the most articulate ability to answer questions, ask great questions and they are so open to learning,” Blanton said. “And when I ask the managers, they’re like, ‘The competition is thick.’”

The high-quality candidate pool was broadened thanks to increased marketing efforts. UK HR Health Care Recruiting marketed the event as far away as California and brought in several candidates from out of state who were new graduates as well as experienced nurses. 

“By collaborating closely with our marketing team, we strategically placed targeted ads tailored to our demographics’ social media usage to reach a broader audience,” said Nichole Stewart, director of health care recruiting. “We leveraged social media postings, grassroots marketing and specially crafted messages for current travelers. The campaign not only encouraged unprecedented walk-ins but also enabled us to realistically aim for 200 RN hires this spring.”

The RN interview event is one of the most important events for UK HealthCare as the university works to hire thousands of nurses amid a nationwide nursing shortage. Casada says it’s important to get a jump on workforce planning in the coming months. 

“Time kills all deals,” Casada said. “They are ready to interview and accept job offers way before graduation. It’s one thing they can get off their plate so they can focus on their last clinical semester and their licensure exams.”

UK HealthCare hopes to be able to find a home for all candidates who want to be at UK. The next RN interview event will be this fall. 

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.