Crisis After COVID: How to Prepare for Nurse Turnover

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented national emergency, and as this virus continues to spread, many nurses will leave the profession. As a healthcare leader, you will want to work closely with nursing leadership to find innovative and creative ways to recruit and retain your nursing staff. You might already be considering bringing back retired nurses, changing shift times, reassigning tasks to other personnel, and adding ancillary staff to your existing nursing team. The following are ideas to help you prepare for what will surely be a national crisis. 

Innovative Thinking 

When retaining current staff and recruiting new staff, it is vital that you utilize divergent thinking. During these uncertain times, the process will demand responsiveness, timeliness, patience, teamwork, and attention to detail. Listen to your nurses. They are the ones in the war zone, and they have an excellent grasp of the situation. You might consider: 

• • Using the knowledge of senior-level nursing students to fill the gaps 
  • Reaching out to nursing program faculty
  • Design a new job description that lets students work under the supervision of a staff RN 
  • Offering part-time nurses the chance to work full-time temporarily 

Keep Your Staff Informed 

This healthcare crisis is taking a toll on the mental and physical health of nurses nationwide, and they understandably have questions and concerns. Communicate often with staff and let them know the steps you are taking to retain and recruit staff. Update your staff on prospective hires, new staff models, temporary staffing plans, and innovative interviewing methods.  

Plan Ahead 

There is uncertainty regarding how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last. It is crucial to look ahead and work on staffing plans months in advance while keeping recruiting open and ongoing. Healthcare is continually evolving, and the current crisis will likely drastically change the delivery of healthcare. So, as you plan, show your current staff that you are an advocate for them and try innovative recruiting strategies to bring in new staff.  

Take Care of Your Nurses 

There are a few reasons that nurses regularly cite as to why they leave the profession. Shift length is always at the top along with staffing and the lack thereof, and personal obligations. Improving your work environment can boost satisfaction. Consider reducing weekly and incremental overtime and eliminate mandatory overtime. Give your nurses a voice in scheduling, workflows, and hospital policies. Try to maintain an environment that recognizes work-life balance and promotes safety. Improving orientation and role transition impacts staff satisfaction. New graduate transition programs increase retention and reduce burnout.  

Partner With Professionals 

If you need help recruiting and retaining nursing staff, consider Nursing Career Coach. The team at Nursing Career Coach utilizes data-driven science to provide healthcare organizations solutions to decrease nursing turnover, increase retention, and improve nursing engagement.