Hospital RN Recruitment and Retention Update 

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Recruiting and retaining qualified RN staff remains a critical challenge for hospitals, impacting clinical efficiency, financial stability, and both patient and employee satisfaction. While hospitals experienced a net increase in staff last year, high turnover rates continue to strain resources and raise concerns. 

Key Findings: 

  • Staffing Changes: Hospitals saw 1.1 million employees exit and 1.5 million employees hired, resulting in a net gain of nearly 400K employees (more than a 6% increase). 

  • Turnover: Despite the vacancies decrease, the national hospital RN turnover rate remains very high at 18.9%. Over the past five years, the average hospital has turned over 100% of its workforce!

  • Variability: Hospital turnover rates vary significantly, ranging from 7% to 35% depending on factors like bed size and staffing models. Reported full-time and part-time separations accounted for a turnover rate of 15.7%. 

Implications: 

High turnover rates contribute to staffing shortages, increase recruitment costs, and is negatively impacting patient care and employee morale, a huge issue that cannot be ignored. Hospitals must prioritize strategies to improve retention and create a supportive work environment to address these challenges.