A new report from Press Ganey surveyed 500,000 registered nurses, advanced practice providers (APPs) and clinical staff nationwide to explore what is driving performance, culture, and retention in today’s nursing workforce. Some of the findings include:
- Turnover rates remain high. The percentage of workers leaving the healthcare field has improved marginally, with 18% of healthcare workers and 17% of nurses leaving their roles last year. While this is better than the nearly 29% of healthcare workers who said they planned to leave their jobs in 2023, according to HRSA, new declines in engagement have experts worried that this trend may be short-lived. In 2024, nearly a quarter of Gen Z Registered Nurses left their jobs due to unmet needs surrounding purpose, support, and alignment—a higher level of turnover than any other generation.
- Engagement is slipping. Engagement scores have declined slightly across the board, but the gap between senior leadership and APPs was particularly jarring in 2024. Just 52% of APPs said leadership is responsive to feedback and only 55% feel they have a voice in decision-making.
- Pride and teamwork matter to nurses. Among RNs and APPs, pride in mission, care quality, and reputation are the strongest predictors of staying in the field. RNs with a negative view of teamwork and resources are 1.53 times more likely to leave. High-performing teams also report fewer safety events.
- Psychological safety is worsening. Only 74% of respondents said mistakes are treated as learning opportunities compared to 77% last year. This might signal a rising fear of blame in the workforce, which could have implications for patient safety and lead to higher turnover.
Press Ganey’s new report ultimately underscores a growing need for healthcare workforce support. This data signals that efforts to support the nursing workforce, like the work being done by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, are crucial to a safer and healthier environment for all healthcare workers.
To read the Press Ganey report, CLICK HERE.