If you ask any healthcare administrator about the challenges they face, one that remains at the top of the list is staffing - particularly nurse staffing. The current nurse shortage effects every aspect of healthcare, including the quality of patient care, rising operational costs, and the mental and physical well-being of healthcare personnel. With a 12% projected job growth rate for nurses by 2028, the demand for nurses will continue to increase.
To combat the nurse shortage, many administrators have focused efforts on nurse recruitment. But while hiring talented nurses is imperative, healthcare leaders must recognize the importance of retaining the top-performing nurses they already have on their teams. Not only are experienced nurses valuable for their clinical and mentoring contributions, but they also mitigate the cost of turnover. According to a study by NSI Nursing Solutions, the average cost of turnover for a bedside registered nurse is $40,038 and ranges from $28,400 to $51,700 - resulting in the average hospital losing between $3.6 million to $6.5 million annually. Here are some ways healthcare administrators can increase nurse retention and alleviate the hassles of recruiting, hiring, and training new nurses.
Long hours, high-stress situations, and the emotional toll of caring for patients can lead to nurse burnout, causing nurses to look for alternative career options. A major contributing factor to nurse burnout is improper staffing numbers. When nurses are required to care for more patients than they have the resources for, they become overwhelmed and exhausted. To ensure proper nurse-to-patient ratios and reduce nurse burnout, many facilities have adopted nurse scheduling software. ScheduleAnywhere is customizable staff scheduling software, so it calculates staffing based on each healthcare facility's specific criteria such as shift requirements, census count, or by patient acuity.
Nurses who believe their healthcare leaders care about their wellbeing are more likely to ask for help instead of looking for alternative employment. Nurse managers and immediate supervisors should check in with employees often. This opens the door for nurses to voice frustrations before they become dealbreakers. Establishing peer support groups gives employees a platform to talk with other nurses who understand the specific challenges they face each day. Another way to underscore your commitment to their physical and mental health is to provide an onsite fitness center and implement a wellness program.
An imbalance of work life and home life is not only difficult for nurses to manage, but it can also cause them to contemplate a career change. Many healthcare facilities are turning to online nurse scheduling software that helps facilitate self-scheduling. This means nurses can select the shifts that best meet their personal needs, but also match their qualifications and are in accordance with the facility's guidelines. Working the hours they prefer increases job satisfaction and improves nurse retention. ScheduleAnywhere online staff scheduling software allows managers to approve the schedule before it's posted to ensure all shifts are accurately covered.
Are you interested in exploring how ScheduleAnywhere nurse scheduling software improves nurse retention while simplifying nurse scheduling and streamlining communication? Try it free today!