Finding Job Satisfaction in Nursing: Why Healthcare Organizations Must Invest in RN and Medical Staffing Retention

Nursing is one of the most critical and demanding professions. As the U.S. population ages and healthcare needs become increasingly complex, the number of registered nurse jobs and other medical staffing gaps continues to rise. Led by the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage has become a significant concern in recent years. Many healthcare organizations struggle to recruit and retain qualified professionals for RN, practitioner, and outpatient nursing jobs.

This shortage leads to decreased patient satisfaction, increased staff turnover, and worse overall organizational performance. In this article, we discuss the importance of job satisfaction in nursing and how healthcare organizations can invest in medical staffing retention to improve results.

What Causes a Lack of Job Satisfaction in Nursing?

Job satisfaction is a critical factor in nursing, as it directly affects patient care and staff retention. According to a recent study by the National Library of Medicine, job satisfaction in nursing was moderate at best. 84.5% of those surveyed with registered nursing jobs said they were unsatisfied with their work-life balance, citing having no energy left when they got home. Other statistics that should be cause for alarm at medical centers that are already struggling to keep and find team members include:

69.9% feel work hours negatively impact their life
59.1% feel vacation policies are inadequate
88.1% feel workloads are too demanding
66.8% feel they need additional nurses at their workplace
69.9% feel they take on too many non-nursing duties
51.3% feel they lack autonomy in providing their nursing care
58% feel there are no opportunities to advance in their career in their current work environment
89.6% feel there aren’t enough break areas to unwind, rest, eat, or socialize

In total, 23% of registered nurse employees said they intend to leave their current position within the next 12 months. When presented with these numbers, you must ask yourself if you can afford to lose nearly one-fourth of your nursing team, and how it affects other medical staffing.

The Impact Unsatisfied Medical Staffing Has on the Industry and Your Facility

A lack of job satisfaction in nursing can lead to decreased patient satisfaction, reduced quality of care, and increased medical errors. Furthermore, unhappy workers are more likely to quit their jobs, which leads to high turnover rates, increased recruitment costs, and decreased productivity. But that is just the start of the negative impacts on the healthcare industry.

According to a study by the National Healthcare Retention & RN Staffing Report, the economic consequences of personnel loss can devastate a hospital’s bottom line, with each RN replacement setting back an average of $46,100. This adds up to a massive financial burden, ranging from $5.2 million to $9 million annually based on average turnover rates. And every 1% increase in turnover costs your facility an extra $262,300 per year.

A lack of job satisfaction in nursing can also hurt your facility’s reputation. Social media and online reviews have made it easier for patients to voice their opinions about their healthcare experiences. Negative reviews can discourage potential patients from seeking treatment at your facility, decreasing revenue and organizational reputation. Furthermore, unhappy workers may discourage those considering a nursing career at your organization from applying, leading to reduced recruitment and retention rates.

The Role Staffing Agencies Play in Improving Job Satisfaction in Nursing

Whether you’re experiencing high turnover rates or your recruitment efforts aren’t proving effective in filling much-needed outpatient nursing jobs, it may be time to consider outside help.

Experienced and reputable medical staffing agencies can play a critical role in helping healthcare providers overcome the challenges of burnout, high turnover, medical staffing gaps, and declining job satisfaction in nursing by providing access to a pool of qualified professionals. They have an extensive network of pre-screened professionals with varying degrees of expertise and specialties, which can be matched to the job requirements. This can save you time and money on recruitment and ensure you have the right professionals in the right roles.

Staffing agencies also prove invaluable for hospitals and practices seeking temporary solutions. They can quickly fill gaps and provide high-quality professionals if you require short-term per diem shifts for unexpected absences, seasonal surges, or special projects. This can help healthcare providers maintain a high level of patient care and reduce the risk of burnout for existing staff.

They can also assist your daily operations and satisfaction improvement objectives with travel nursing solutions. Travel nurses are licensed healthcare professionals who work on temporary assignments in various facilities, usually for 13 to 26 weeks. Rich in experience and expertise, they are often highly trained in critical care, emergency room, and labor and delivery and can provide expertise in these areas.

Steps You Can Take to Increase Retention and Job Satisfaction in Nursing

It’s important not to lose sight of your current employees that have no intent to leave. The last thing you want to do is to turn a happy, proficient employee into one that begins exploring other long-term career opportunities with a competitor.

Here are a few tips on how to increase retention and job satisfaction in nursing at your organization:

Reward loyalty and exceptional performance by providing competitive compensation and benefits
Offer professional development opportunities
Promote work-life balance
Encourage staff engagement
Offer mental health and wellness resources

Fill Your Registered Nurse Jobs and Increase Job Satisfaction With ERN Services

For over 20 years, ERN has been a reliable partner to hospitals and medical facilities nationwide looking for per diem and travel nurses. We proudly offer an extensive network of highly qualified, vetted, and certified professionals to help with your medical staffing needs. Whether you’re looking to increase job satisfaction in nursing positions at your hospital or want to improve the morale of your current team by offering them additional support during busy times, we have the teams to help you achieve your goals.

Reach out today to add a listing to our job openings page or to view professionals interested in offering their services.