Why Practices Need to Think Like Marketers
The UK dental nurse shortage means that verified, experienced nurses have choices. When a vacancy appears on a direct-hire platform, a good locum nurse may have several options available on the same day. Practices that treat the vacancy posting as a formality - minimal information, uncompetitive rate, slow response - will consistently lose out on the best candidates to practices that understand what nurses value.
Here are the ten factors that locum dental nurses consistently cite as most important when deciding whether to accept a shift.
1. A Clear, Competitive Hourly Rate
The rate is always the first thing a nurse sees. If it's below market for the area and experience level, many nurses won't read further. Benchmark your rate against the current market (see our rate guide) and price competitively. For urgent or SOS shifts, offer the SOS premium - nurses who see this know their flexibility is being respected.
2. An Accurate Session Description
"Dental nurse required" tells a locum almost nothing useful. A strong vacancy description should include:
Nurses use this information to assess whether the shift suits their skills and schedule.
3. Clear Location and Parking Information
A locum nurse who has to guess whether there is parking nearby - or who arrives late because they couldn't find the practice - starts the day stressed. Include:
4. Dental Software Used
Experienced locum nurses have varying familiarity with dental practice software. A nurse who uses Dentally daily will work faster than one unfamiliar with it. Stating the software used in your vacancy (Software of Excellence, R4, Dentally, etc.) allows nurses to self-select based on competence - and allows you to request familiarity with a specific system.
5. Procedure Types and Speciality Requirements
A general dental nurse and a sedation-trained nurse are not interchangeable. If your session involves sedation, oral surgery, orthodontics, or implant work, state this clearly so only nurses with the relevant experience apply. Conversely, if it is straightforward general dentistry, saying so broadens your applicant pool.
6. NHS, Private, or Mixed Setting
This matters beyond just pay rates. The pace of NHS and private sessions differs significantly, and nurses often have strong preferences. State the practice type upfront.
7. Your Practice's Review Rating
On a platform with a bidirectional review system, locum nurses will look at your practice rating before applying. Practices rated poorly (slow payment, poor organisation, unpleasant working environment) attract fewer applicants - and those who do apply may be less experienced nurses with fewer options.
The implication: treating locums well is not just an ethical consideration - it directly affects your ability to attract talent. Pay on time, communicate clearly, and make locums feel welcome.
8. Prompt Payment Record
Late payment is the fastest way to get a bad reputation in the locum community. Nurses talk, and a practice known for delaying payment will find its applications declining. Platforms with integrated payment (like NetworkDental) remove this risk by processing payments automatically once timesheets are approved - eliminating the "invoice and wait" dynamic.
9. Quick Response to Applications
Locum nurses often apply to multiple vacancies simultaneously. If your practice takes 48 hours to respond to an application, the nurse has likely already accepted a shift elsewhere. Aim to respond to applications within a few hours - ideally within the same day. Platforms with notification systems help by alerting you to new applications in real time.
10. The Overall Professionalism of the Posting
A vacancy posting is the locum's first impression of your practice. A well-written, complete posting signals a well-run practice. A sparse, unclear, or error-ridden posting signals the opposite. Spend five extra minutes on each vacancy posting - it will pay dividends in the quality of applications you receive.
How NetworkDental Helps
NetworkDental's vacancy posting interface guides practices through all the key fields that locum nurses care about - rate, session details, software, speciality, and location. Our review system means your practice builds a visible track record that attracts better nurses over time. Integrated Stripe payments ensure nurses are always paid promptly after timesheet approval. And our notification system means you can respond to applications the moment they land.
Post a vacancy that nurses want to apply to. Register your practice →
