Work aspects that negatively affect RETENTION 

Posted on by
David Ledersnaider, Ph.D. – Principal, The Nash Group

A comprehensive survey of 1,834 registered nurses was conducted to understand the factors contributing to the alarmingly high 20% average turnover rate in hospitals. Nurses were asked to rate their agreement with various potential reasons for this trend, providing valuable insights into their experiences and perceptions. The findings reveal key areas of concern that hospitals must address to improve nurse retention and create a more supportive work environment. 

Takeaways: 

  • Compensation and Recognition are Critical: The high agreement rates on “Wage increases do not reflect my contributions” (77%) and “I am dissatisfied with my total compensation” (66%) strongly suggest that nurses feel undervalued and underpaid. 

  • Work-Life Balance and Scheduling Issues: The significant percentage of nurses “looking for a job with a different schedule” (26%) and finding their “work-life balance is stressful” (61%) highlights the need for flexible scheduling and better work-life integration. 

  • Workload and Support Concerns: High agreement on “Unmanageable nurse-to-patient ratios” (44%), “Excessive documentation workload” (45%), and “Consistently unable to take regular breaks” (37%) indicate nurses are feeling overwhelmed and lack adequate support. 

  • Leadership Responsiveness: The 37% agreement on “Leadership is not responsive to my ideas/concerns” suggests a need for improved communication and responsiveness from hospital leadership. 

  • Benefits and Career Advancement: The 30% agreement on “I am contributing more for less benefits” (31%) and “I have abundant opportunities for career advancement” (29%) point to potential areas for improvement in benefits packages and career development programs. 

  • Impact of Patient/Family Interactions: The 43% agreement on “I have experienced negative interactions with patients/families” highlights the emotional toll of nursing and the need for strategies to support nurses in these situations. 

  • Turnover Risk Indicated: The 33% of nurses “looking for a job with another organization” underscores the urgency for hospitals to address retention issues. 

Work aspects that negatively affect RETENTION

A comprehensive survey of 1,834 registered nurses was conducted to understand the factors contributing to the alarmingly high 20% average turnover rate in hospitals.