Press Ganey recently released its annual Nurse Experience Report. This year’s findings show a rise in expectations, a shift in engagement, and an urgent need to restore trust and create a stronger sense of belonging across America’s nursing workforce.
Key findings in the report include:
- There was a slight improvement in turnover in 2024, but high turnover rates lead to instability in teams, making it harder to build trust and a strong culture. Last year, 17% of nurses left their jobs.
- 24% of Gen Z registered nurses (RNs) left their organizations in 2024. Their top priorities include a sense of purpose, support, and alignment, and they are willing to leave if those needs are not met.
- Only 52% of advanced practice providers (APPs) believe their leadership is responsive to their feedback, and just 55% feel like they have a voice in decision-making.
- Pride and reputation are top indicators of retention for both RNs and APPs. It has 2x the effect of teamwork on retention and 4x that of leadership and resilience.
- Only 74% of employees say mistakes are treated as learning opportunities, signaling a breakdown in psychological safety.
Reducing turnover, especially among early career nursing professionals, is critical. In a recent interview, Press Ganey’s Chief Nursing Officer, Jeff Doucette, explained that CNOs need to meet Gen Z where they are to improve retention. Gen Z values flexibility and a clear route to career progression. This means having initial conversations with employees to show them where their career can go in the future. It also means adapting to their styles of communication, such as replacing weekly newsletters with short TikTok-like videos. The needs of the healthcare workforce are changing, and leaders must adapt to these changes in order to keep that workforce afloat.
To read the report, CLICK HERE.
To read more about the interview, CLICK HERE.