21/08/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 21/08/2024 21:11
Coauthored by Angela Pascale, Research Analyst, Press Ganey.
Nurse turnover is a major challenge at hospitals across the country, negatively impacting patient care, staff burnout and morale, and financial performance. Recent Press Ganey data reveals just how prevalent this issue is: Nearly one in five registered nurses (RNs) left their role between 2022 and 2023. It also shows a clear connection between engagement and RN turnover: Facilities that score at the top in engagement outperform those at the bottom by 5.6 percentage points. Looking at the financial implications, lower turnover rates translate to $313,000 in cost savings for every 100 RNs.
Research using data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) brings another concern to light: Higher RN turnover rates are associated with an increase in patient falls and higher costs.
Thankfully, organizations can implement several strategies to address these challenges, leading to improved patient safety and outcomes as well as reduced costs.
Press Ganey analyzed 2023 annual turnover rates for employed full-time equivalent (FTE) RNs and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) alongside patient fall rates per 1,000 patient days. Our analysis focused on 844 medical-surgical and step-down units with turnover data stratified by hospital bed size: 100 to 200 beds, 200 to 400 beds, and 400 to 500 beds. Within each group, we identified the units in the top and bottom quartile based on RN turnover rates.
Lower RN turnover rates are associated with fewer falls and lower cost. Smaller hospitals (100-200 beds) save $105,000 per year, while larger hospitals (400-500 beds) save $616,000.
So, what did we learn? Units with the lowest annual turnover rates demonstrated lower fall rates across all bed sizes:
*Per 1,000 patient days for units with lower turnover
We then compared units with high and low RN turnover rates to see how turnover, falls, and associated costs were linked. Hospitals with lower turnover rates had fewer falls on average, and, as a result, hospitals with 100-200 beds saved approximately $105,000, and those with 400-500 saved about $616,000 beds annually.
Lower nurse turnover directly translates to improved patient safety, fewer patient falls, and, ultimately, cost savings for the healthcare organization. But how do organizations reduce turnover and, in turn, drive retention?
RN feedback is essential to improvement. What do your RNs want? What's their experience like at your organization? And how might these experiences and needs differ across demographics and populations?
4 ways to understand the RN experience
But improving the nurse experience -and, as such, reducing RN turnover and improving PX and outcomes-takes a village. We are all in this together. To discuss your organization's unique challenges, reach out to one of our nursing experts. We can't wait to hear from you.