Category: Nurses

Suicide Risk Among Nurses Higher than Non-Nurses

Nurses are at a higher risk of suicide than the general population according to the findings of the first national investigation into nurse suicide in over twenty years.

Nurses are at a higher risk of suicide than the general population according to the findings of the first national investigation into nurse suicide in more than two decades.

The study, which was published in Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, found that suicide incidence was 11.97 per 100,000 female nurses and even higher among male nurses, with suicide claiming 39.8 per 100,000. Both figures are significantly higher than that of the general population, which is 7.58 per 100,000 women and 28.2 per 100,000 men. Overall, the suicide rate was 13.9 per 100,000 nurses versus 17.7 per 100,000 for the general population.

In all, over 400 nurses per year die by suicide, and according to the study, nurse anesthetists and retired nurses were at the highest risk.

“We are overworked and stressed, and on the edge of the breaking point at any given moment,” said Ariel Begun, BSN, RN, who was willing to speak with us regarding the alarming rate of nurse suicides. “In the last 10 years I have seen the expectations of nurses increase and the staffing and quality of supplies decrease. Nurses have been told they need to do more with less for years and it keeps getting worse.”

When asked how the healthcare industry and its employers can better support the mental health of nurses, Begun had a lot to offer.

“First, fix the systemic problems in healthcare. Starting with patient to nurse ratios being lowered, and increased staffing for support of the department and to ensure someone is available to help in emergencies. We should not consider barebones staffing to be the norm. We also need to provide better resources for nurses to care for patients without having to use the cheapest thing on the market. Additionally, we need better hours and shift options. We should not need to work to the point of jet lag mental conditions, where our basic thought capacity is diminished to the point where we have trouble remembering to care for ourselves.

“Guilt is also a driving factor for nurses. We don’t call out when we are sick because we know the department will be hurt by us not being there. We don’t get decent breaks and we work to the point of dehydration and kidney failure potential. Toss in Neurogenic Nurse Bladder, a condition that develops because of the nurse’s lack of bathroom break time. Can’t pee, I might miss a call from the doc, or my patient might code while I am away.

“In regards to mental health specifically, it would be nice to have group support sessions where nurses can get together and talk about the issues they have. Resources for home-work balance need to be available, too. I always thought that a group yoga session would be a nice thing to have as a way to get your day started in a healthy manner. The first lesson I learned in nursing school was, now is not the time to try to quit any vices you have, in fact you might as well double down on them, because they are going to be what helps you get through your day. Nurses are taught to do the things that we then need to teach our patients not to do. Nurses are not taught coping strategies for how to handle their stress. They are only taught that it is a thing and you can’t escape it.”

If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or others, we encourage you to seek help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or by texting 741741 to have a conversation with a trained crisis counselor via the Crisis Text Line.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Had a Tough Shift? Here’s 5 Ways to Recover.

Nursing is a hard job to begin with, but some days are harder than others. Here are five ways to help put that extra tough shift behind you and move forward.

Nursing is a hard job to begin with, not just physically, but also emotionally. And some days will be harder than others. Some days, your patience and your mettle will be tested in ways you never imagined—you’ll mess up something important, an extra combative patient will curse you out, a well-liked patient will die. How do you recover from those shifts? Here are five things to try.

Talk It Out

Whether it’s with a coworker or a close friend, take the time to honor what you are feeling and unload your emotions. Crying it out, if you need to, or simply saying aloud just how much your day truly sucked, can offer a cathartic release and help you let go of the negative emotions you are holding on to. Speaking to management, as well, can prove useful, as they can often help you to find the learning opportunities in your strife, or reassure you that you did the right thing in a hard situation.

Find Joy

Whatever makes you happy, do that. After your shift, snuggle your pets or your partner, cook a good meal or order in, curl up with Netflix or hit the gym, call a friend or read a book. Take the time to partake in whatever it is that typically brings you joy, instead of stewing in the negativity of your day.

Sleep It Off

After a noisy day at work—and let’s be honest, it can get very noisy—climbing into a cozy bed, surrounded by quiet, can offer comfort in a way that most other things cannot. This can be extra beneficial after a hard day, as well. Curl up and get some sleep—it’s going to be okay in the morning (or evening, if you’re working the night shift).

Focus on the Future

The next day is always a new day, with potential for new victories, no matter how trying the day before was. Focus on the fresh start tomorrow affords you and try not to dwell on the past. There are always new chances to help people and change lives in the days ahead, and isn’t that the best part of nursing?

Get Help

If you truly cannot move beyond what happened, do not be afraid to seek professional help. There is no shame in not being able to work through things on your own. A non-biased third-party, such as a therapist, can help you objectively look at whatever happened and move beyond it by talking things through in ways that your personal confidants might not be able to.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Where Are You Most Needed? 6 Nursing Shortage Facts.

The nursing shortage is a growing problem that’s putting serious pressure on nursing staff around the country. Here are 6 facts to know about it.

By Deborah Swanson

It’s no secret that the United States is in desperate need of nurses. Due to patients living longer, educational bottlenecks, and a staggeringly high turnover rate in the healthcare industry, the nursing shortage is a growing problem that’s putting serious pressure on nursing staff around the country.

As a nurse or nursing student, you’re probably well aware of these issues. In fact, it may even be one of the primary reasons you’ve pursued a nursing career in the first place. After all, what could be more fulfilling than providing care and support for patients who desperately need it?

There are several areas—both physical and occupational—where the need for nurses is at an all-time high. If your true calling is to make a difference in the lives of your patients, here are six nursing shortage facts that may influence where you end up.

  1. California has the greatest nursing shortage of any state.

    Although California employs the highest number of registered nurses in the country, it needs more—a lot more, in fact. According to a 2017 report by the Health Resources and Services Administration, California is predicted to have the highest demand for nurses in the country, with a shortage of nearly 45,000 registered nurses.

    With its strong economy and thriving metropolitan areas, California has long been a desirable place to live. If you’re thinking about working as a nurse in the Golden State, check out the California Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) for mentorship and networking opportunities.

  2. Rural towns need the most help.

    If you prefer small town life to the hustle and bustle of urban living, healthcare institutions in rural America will gladly accept your help. Attracting and retaining qualified nurses has long been a problem for hospitals in rural locations, mainly due to the lower pay rate and less lively social scene.

    While the pay may be lower, the cost of living is often lower as well. Plus, you’ll never deal with the insane traffic that you’d find in a metropolitan area. For nurses who truly want to make a difference, the rural healthcare workforce is in desperate need of help.

  3. Demand for certified nurse midwives is growing.

    What could be more meaningful than caring for the newest generation? Certified nurse midwives are experiencing a huge surge in demand lately as more couples wish for positive and natural birth experiences.

    According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurse midwives is expected to grow 21 percent by 2026, with 1,700 jobs created in this occupation. As an added bonus, you’re looking at a median wage of $106,910 for this field, per estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  4. Certified nurse anesthetists, dialysis nurses and other nurse specialties are growing, too.

    In addition to certified nurse midwives, there is a growing number of in-demand nurse specialties that nursing students should consider. Making one of these specialties your primary focus can help you facilitate change in the healthcare industry and pave the way towards a fulfilling career:

    • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNAs): CRNAs work with surgeons, anesthesiologists and other healthcare professionals to safely deliver anesthesia to patients. CRNAs are one of the higher-paying fields in the industry, with a mean annual wage of $174,790.
    • Certified Dialysis Nurse: As our population continues to age, the need for dialysis services is growing. A certified dialysis nurse assists their patients with kidney function issues by supporting the administration of dialysis with a physician. Growth for this job is steady and is expected to increase 26 percent over the next decade.
    • Pediatric Endocrinology (PED ENDO) Nurse: As a PED ENDO nurse, you’ll provide care and support for children with endocrine disorders such as diabetes or hypoglycemia. Unfortunately, the need for this occupation may be growing due to our increasing risk of diabetes and obesity.
  5. The need for nurse educators has never been greater.

    One of the reasons why the country is facing such an immense shortage of registered nurses is partly due to educational bottlenecks. With an aging faculty, budget issues, and low pay, the demand for nurse educators is at an all-time high.

    According to a 2017 study published in Nursing Outlook, one-third of current nurse educators are expected to retire by 2025. Most younger faculty members who may potentially replace them don’t have nearly the same level of experience as their older counterparts.

    To address this shortage, many nursing programs and organizations are providing more funding for nursing students to seek doctoral degrees to replenish the supply of nurse educators and researchers. If you’re a current nursing student, don’t be afraid to talk with your advisor or senior nursing students about pursuing a doctoral degree.

  6. Travel nurses can greatly benefit nurses and hospitals alike.

    Travel nursing is just one of the ways in which the nation is addressing the decades-long nursing shortage. Being a travel nurse is exactly what it sounds like: You sign a short-term contract and travel to wherever you’re needed most, often for much better pay than staff nurses.

    If you’ve always dreamed of packing your nursing bag to see more of the world while making a positive difference in the lives of your patients, becoming a travel nurse can help you achieve both. Although you need roughly 18 months of experience in a nursing specialty to be a travel nurse, the opportunity to travel internationally or across the country for a high pay rate is undeniably appealing.

As a nurse or nursing student, you have the potential to make a huge impact in your community. Whether it’s by pursuing a doctoral degree or living the life of a traveling nurse, your choices going forward can make all the difference. By keeping these six nursing shortage facts in the back of your mind, you can opt for an extremely rewarding career path that sets you up for success.

Deborah Swanson is a Coordinator for the Real Caregivers Program at allheart.com. A site dedicated to celebrating medical professionals and their journeys. She keeps busy interviewing caregivers and writing about them and loves gardening.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Nursing Career Changes and the Soul

Nursing involves soul work—the desire to serve, to give back, to help—and that, too, can be a reason for a career change, not just salary or advancement.

From Nurse Keith’s Digital Doorway

When a nurse needs a career change, the reasons can be myriad and multifaceted. However, when we only reach for the money or for career “advancement”, we may miss a golden opportunity for a different kind of personal and professional blossoming to take place.

We nurses change the course of our careers based on many factors, one of which may be money or advancement. This is all well and good, but based on my beliefs about the soul work of evolving as a nurse, money and career development are only parts of a much more intricate puzzle.

The soul work of nursing is that which lies deep within you; it’s the desire to serve, to give back, to contribute, to tend to others. Sometimes that soul work trumps salary and recognition. It just does. And sometimes that just has to be okay for a time.

What Calls You?

Sometimes, a move from one form of nursing to another may feel like a lateral move rather than a vertical one, but there are times when lateral moves make sense because there is a calling that runs deeper than the call of your bank account.

It’s often said that nursing is more of a “calling” than a profession, and this may very well be true for many of us. And what “calls” us from one form of nursing to another may be the work we need to do on a deeper soul level, the level at which we fulfill our larger life’s mission.

Perhaps you’ve been working with adults for years but feel that spending time with children is now essential for your personal development. You don’t understand it and you want to question it, but the magnetic pull towards this new aspect of your life as a nurse has more power than you realize and is simply undeniable. And if you honor that magnetism, you never know what gifts may lay in store for you down that as yet unknown path.

Or maybe you’re just not feeling “right” anymore in your current position. You don’t necessarily feel burned out, but it just doesn’t feel like it used to. All of a sudden, a new position makes itself known, but you realize that it will amount to a cut in pay. Do you honor your desire and take the pay cut in anticipation of the gold that may be waiting within this new opportunity? Or do you turn your back simply because of the money?

Your life circumstances may allow you to absorb the financial hit and explore this new career option, or perhaps not. But it’s worth exploring how you feel in your gut and your heart, and to consider your options.

Multiple Bottom Lines

Of course, if you have a family, children or other dependents, your financial bottom line must sometimes take precedence over your desires. However, we can also flip that around and see that there are many bottom lines: spiritual, physical, psychic, financial, mental, and emotional.

A few more dollars per hour can sometimes seem like it will make the difference for you and your family, and that may be true on a certain level. But what about your spiritual health and mental health? What “tax” will you pay for that slight increase in pay? What will the toll be, and will you be able to pay it day after day? Look at career change from a multifaceted perspective and the decision may become more clear.

Weighing Your Options, Caring For Your Soul

Reality—especially financial reality—can feel weighty when making career decisions. And let’s acknowledge that there are other realities as well, and sometimes those realities (like the psychoemotional or spiritual) also need to be honored, weighed, and figured into the equation. We also must remember that when we think there are only two paths from which to choose, there are more often than not more choices than we immediately recognize.

So, if a career change is in your sights, examine it closely, weigh it all, do the math, and allow your heart, gut, and mind to guide you. Allowing only one of those important aspects of yourself to steer the entire ship without heeding the wisdom of the others may not yield the results you deserve.

Career change is exciting and sometimes scary. Use all of your faculties to plot a path, and make a choice that works for your soul, your career, your family, and who you truly want to be as a nurse.

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, is the Board Certified Nurse Coach behind NurseKeith.com and the well-known nursing blog, Digital Doorway. Please visit his online platforms and reach out for his support when you need it most.

Keith is co-host of RNFMRadio.com, a wildly popular nursing podcast; he also hosts The Nurse Keith Show, his own podcast focused on career advice and inspiration for nurses.

A widely published nurse writer, Keith is the author of “Savvy Networking For Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century,” and has contributed chapters to a number of books related to the nursing profession. Keith has written for Nurse.com, Nurse.org, MultiViews News Service, LPNtoBSNOnline, StaffGarden, AusMed, American Sentinel University, the ANA blog, Working Nurse Magazine, and other online publications.

Mr. Carlson brings a plethora of experience as a nurse thought leader, online nurse personality, podcaster, holistic career coach, writer, and well-known successful nurse entrepreneur. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, Mary Rives.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

5 Reasons to Give Travel Positions a Try

For those with a sense of adventure, travel positions need no other selling point. If you don’t have a natural love of travel, though, here are five other reasons to consider travel assignments.

Not a lot of careers come with the ability to travel the country and get paid for it, but there are quite a few in the healthcare arena that do. Physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, therapy professionals, and more are afforded the unique opportunity to accept contract positions, often also referred to as locum tenens, at hospitals and clinics all over the United States, from sea to shining sea. For those with a sense of adventure or a love of travel, this needs no other selling point. However, here are five scenarios in which you may want to give travel assignments a try, if you need more convincing.

If You’re Relatively New

Travel positions provide a good opportunity to figure out what you want to specialize in, in which setting, or even what area of the country you want to live in. Since travel positions are predominantly contracts that are two or more months long, you’ll have plenty of time to see what you like, or don’t like, before fully committing to a permanent position somewhere and setting down roots.

If You’re Feeling Burnt Out

A change of scenery can do wonders for the seasoned clinician who is struggling with the all too common pains of burnout. Working with different populations of patients, or even different coworkers, in different places can help to alleviate the feeling of stagnation. Travel positions typically also afford more work-life balance and less intensive schedules, which allows you to focus more on the things that truly matter in your life—not just documentation.

If You Want More Money

Locums positions typically offer higher salaries than permanent positions, sometimes as much as 30-50 percent more. If you are trying to pay off a student loan, or just want to tuck some money away for a rainy day, signing on for a few travel positions is likely to get you out of the red.

If You Want a Trial Run

Travel positions allow you to try out a wide range of settings and patient populations, often with the option to take on a permanent role within the practice you are filling in at. If you are thinking of pivoting in your career, this is a good way to “try before you buy,” so to speak, that will allow you to make an informed decision about where you want to settle in for the long-term.

If You Want to Make a Difference

Locums positions are often available in remote and underserved areas, allowing you to significantly impact the lives of people who need your skills the most. From the most secluded towns in Alaska to small town America, you’ll be able to provide quality care for those who would not otherwise have adequate access to care.

Ready to give it a shot? We have over 40,000 travel positions available on our site right now, if you want to take a look.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Seven Strategies to Prevent Nursing Fatigue

Almost all nurses have experienced nursing fatigue at some point in their careers; try these seven strategies to combat the effects of it.

By Deborah Swanson

Nurses are incredibly resilient. Each day, they wake up, throw on a set of scrubs and head into work to perform a demanding 12-hour shift—all while striving to provide the best possible care to their patients. Then, they get home and fall asleep, only to begin the process all over again.

But as a nurse, you know that this barely touches the reality of the situation. In the United States, most hospitals and clinics are woefully understaffed, which often forces nurses to work longer shifts and manage far more patients than they can actually handle. The unfortunate result is nursing fatigue, a common condition which can make you feel both mentally and physically exhausted for days, weeks, or even months.

Almost all nurses have experienced nursing fatigue at some point in their careers, so don’t feel guilty over it. Instead, you can try these seven strategies to combat the effects of nursing fatigue.

1. Leave Work at the Door

When you clock out from work, it’s important for you to clock out mentally as well. Leaving your work at the door is essential for avoiding compassion fatigue, a condition which results from repeated exposure to patient suffering while working in a high-stress environment.

In a 2017 study published in the European Journal of Oncology Nursing, researchers found that nurses were more likely to experience compassion fatigue when they were more self-judgmental. If you come home from work and feel guilty about all the things you could have done to make your patient’s life easier, you won’t give yourself time to recharge for the next shift.

2. Practice Different Forms of Self Care

Nurses go from patient-to-patient, checking their vital signs, administering medicine and assisting them with daily activities. As a result, it’s easy to get so caught up in caring for patients that you forget to take care of yourself.

To be on top of your game each day, it’s critical that you do things for yourself on a regular basis. Some self care practices you can try include: going for a walk in nature, starting your day with meditation or signing up for a healthy subscription meal service.

If you tend to feel guilty about treating yourself, make your forms of self care double as a bonus for work. For example, do arm work every other day to help lift your patients or invest in the new pair of nursing shoes that you’ve been eyeing for months.

3. Use Your Vacation Days

You have vacation days, so remember to use them. Taking time off work is key to preventing burnout and will help you return to work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. If your nursing unit schedules vacations at the start of each year, be sure to get your days in the books—even if you don’t have anywhere in particular to go.

In fact, planning a “staycation” for yourself may be the perfect getaway. You can recharge your batteries by relaxing at home, catching up on things you’ve been neglecting and spending quality time with the family.

4. Unload Your Brain after Each Day

After a particularly tiring shift, sometimes you just need to declutter your mind and get all your thoughts out of your head. One way to do this is by writing them down on paper or typing them into a Google doc.

Untangling your mind and getting the thoughts out of your head can lower your mental brain fog and allow you to relax after a shift. The process is simple: Just set a timer for 15 minutes and unload your thoughts. Once the time is up, delete your document or click out of it. Reading it over again will only put the words back into your head.

5. Change Your Work Environment

While it’s no secret that most hospitals and clinics stretch their nurses far too thin, some take it to another level by creating an environment that is downright dangerous. If your healthcare institution has a poor nurse-to-patient ratio and no system in place to provide help for nurses, it may be worth it to begin searching for a new job.

Though nursing is an in-demand field, finding the right fit can be trickier than it sounds. Don’t be afraid to explore different healthcare settings to find your ideal work environment. While you might take a pay cut in some instances, the change could be the key to preventing nurse fatigue.

6. Find a Specialty You Love

It’s much easier to prevent nursing fatigue when you truly love what you do. If being a registered nurse just isn’t working for you, consider switching to a nursing specialty that makes you happy to stroll into work each day.

While you could always take a nursing specialty quiz to help you nail down your career, one of the best ways to get a feel for a particular specialty is hands-on experience. Are you interested in a position as an emergency room nurse? Talk with the ER manager and let them know you’re ready to help. There are hundreds of nursing specialties, so be sure to explore all your options to find a job that truly ignites your passion.

7. Explore New Hobbies

Every nurse needs a hobby that allows them to decompress and wind down from work. Finding joy in a new hobby can combat nursing fatigue by giving you something to look forward to after a shift.

Some of the best hobbies for nurses often double as stress-relieving activities, such as painting, knitting, woodworking and jewelry-making. Be sure to explore hobbies that get your heart rate up. Getting involved in a pickup soccer game, going zip-lining with friends and enrolling in a martial arts class can help keep your mind off work while improving your mood.

Long shifts combined with understaffed nursing units are the perfect storm for nursing fatigue. While some healthcare facilities are working to address the problem, it’s important for you to be proactive about your health and happiness. With the help of these strategies, you can fight back against nursing fatigue and prevent it from affecting your personal and professional life.

Deborah Swanson is a Coordinator for the Real Caregivers Program at allheart.com. A site dedicated to celebrating medical professionals and their journeys. She keeps busy interviewing caregivers and writing about them and loves gardening.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Tips for Surviving the Night Shift

Bucking your biology and working the night shift can take some getting used to. Here are some tips to make transitioning to nights a little easier.

The human body is naturally programmed to be awake during the day and to be asleep at night, so bucking your biology and working the night shift can take some getting used to. Follow these tips to get into a new routine that will make transitioning to nocturnal nursing a little easier.

Set Yourself up for Some Good Sleep

Hang soundproof, blackout curtains to keep as much noise and light out as possible. While the panels won’t completely mask the sound of your jerk of a neighbor cutting their grass early in the morning, or keep out 100% of the blazing midday sun, they will definitely make a marked difference in helping your body adjust to your new nocturnal life. For the remaining sound and light, use ear plugs and an eye mask to completely daytime-proof your sleep. Also, make sure your room is cool—between 60- and 67-degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended temperature for optimal sleep—and before you settle into bed to catch some z’s, pop a Melatonin tablet and put your phone into Do Not Disturb mode, if possible.

Stay Awake After Your Shift

Set up your schedule so you stay awake for a few extra hours after work and awake shortly before your shift to maximize your alertness on the job. Waking up and beginning your shift early in your so-called day will leave you feeling more energized, as opposed to crashing as soon as you get home and trying to pack in activities prior to working. Just as you would get up and go to work for a day job, plan to do the same when working nights, so you won’t be dragging on the tail end of your shift. Use the time after your shift to run errands, get in some exercise, prepare meals, or even go on a breakfast date with your significant other or your friends, if their schedules allow.

Pack Energizing Foods

Night shift nurses typically see a bit more downtime than those working days, when patients are awake and eagerly pressing their call buttons, so you might find that you have more time for meals and snacks than when you worked days. Use this to your advantage and fuel your body to keep you in top shape, mentally and physically, as well as keep your energy up while on the job. Reach for nuts, lean proteins, and dried fruits at the beginning of your shift to get you going, eat small snacks of the same throughout the night to add in bursts of energy, and be sure to avoid carbs until you get home to keep from feeling tired and sluggish.

Avoid Caffeine

This may seem counterintuitive, but reach for water, instead of coffee, to keep your body powered and to avoid sleep disfunction when you’re off the clock. Caffeine may give you a boost in the short-term, but it will eventually lead to a crash. Staying hydrated not only gives you energy, but it helps your brain function, which are both things that will make the night shift easier. If you simply cannot go without caffeine and need to get your fix, make sure you are only consuming it early in your shift to lessen any adverse effects when you clock out.

Stick to Your Routine

Once you find a schedule and a routine that works best for you and leaves you feeling at the top of your game, stick with it—even on your days off. Instead of having to readjust and reset your body clock over and over, keep it on the same schedule, even if you are tempted to flip it back to how it used to be and make use of the daylight in ways you can’t while on the clock. A regular sleep schedule promotes better sleep. Be as consistent as you can be to keep yourself rested and healthy.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The #1 Reason Nurses Leave Their Jobs

Nurse turnover remains a problem for hospitals year after year. So, what is the main factor driving nurses away from their jobs?

What is the most common reason nurses leave their jobs? It’s their work environment, or so says the Press Ganey Nursing Special Report, Optimizing the Nursing Workforce: Key Drivers of Intent to Stay for Newly Licensed and Experienced Nurses.

The study, which explored responses from nearly a quarter of a million RNs, identified trends in nurse retention and turnover, as well as intent to stay in their jobs, based on age, tenure, and unit type. Nurses across all ages and experience levels who planned to leave their job within the next year most commonly cited dissatisfaction with their work environment as their reason for leaving. Poor work environment was followed by home or personal reasons as the second most popular reason for leaving, and then a change in nursing career.

If you’ve left your job recently, or are planning to leave, has your work environment played a role in your decision?

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Hiring Spotlight: CoreMedical Group

In this Hiring Spotlight, learn more about CoreMedical Group and the thousands of openings they have available for nurses, therapy professionals, and physicians.

Welcome to the Hiring Spotlight, a feature that takes a deeper look at companies that are offering excellent opportunities for you across the country.

Company Profile

For more than 25 years, CoreMedical Group has been a leader in healthcare staffing and recruiting for registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, respiratory therapists, physicians, and medical management roles for placement in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country. Their mission to “Connect People, Improve Lives, and Give Back” is the foundation of everything they do. With thousands of openings across all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, if the right position for you is out there, you can very likely find it with CoreMedical Group.

Take a look at a handful of their openings below, or view thousands of CoreMedical Group’s available jobs by clicking here.

Featured Openings

Nursing Jobs:

RN, Med/Surg $10K BONUS – Muskogee, OK

Immediate need for experienced Med/surg RN’s to join a leading hospital system. Prefer RN’s with 2+ years clinical experience in Medical/Surgical unit or related specialty. Active OK license, BLS Certified.

RN – Registered Nurse – Honolulu, HI

Client in HI seeking HI- TELE (RN) to work 12 hour shifts, Rotating Day / Night. Must work weekends. May be asked to be on-call at times. If voluntary on-call from regular scheduled shift, and called to report, hours will be paid at straight time for regularly scheduled shift.

RN, Nurse, Critical Care, ICU – Frisco, TX

Immediate need for a Registered Nurse with 2 or more years Critical Care / ICU experience in a fast-paced, high acuity setting to join a leading hospital system. BSN Degree preferred. ACLS, BLS Certified. Active TX license.

RN – Registered Nurse – Washington, D.C.

Client in DC seeking RN OR (RN) to work Weekends, Days (05:00-08:00)

RN – Registered Nurse – Los Angeles, CA

Client in CA seeking Staff Nurse Inpatient-CVICU/Coronary-Fast Response (RN) to work 07:00 AM to 07:00 PM

Advanced Practice Jobs:

Nurse Practitioner – Houston, TX

Immediate opening for an experienced Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to join a leading hospital. Qualified candidates will have 3 or more years experience. Must have TX License and prescriptive authority.

Physician Assistant – Albuquerque, NM

CoreMedical Group has partnered with a client in New Mexico that needs ongoing coverage for their Urgent Care. If you do not currently have a NM license but are interested, we can help facilitate this process for you.

Nurse Practitioner – Colorado Springs, CO

CoreMedical Group has partnered with a client in Colorado that needs ongoing coverage for their Neonatal program. This opportunity requires an active CO license.

Nurse Practitioner – Altoona, PA

CoreMedical Group has partnered with a client in Western Pennsylvania that needs ongoing APP coverage for their Hospital Medicine program. If you do not currently have a PA license but are interested, we can help facilitate this process for you. Night Shifts 7p-7a. Block Scheduling. Ongoing Need. Full Sub-specialty support. Market Competitive Rates.

Physician Assistant – Santa Clara, CA

CoreMedical Group has partnered with a client in California that needs ongoing coverage for their Urgent Care. If you do not currently have a CA license but are interested, we can help facilitate this process for you. Mon- Fri- 9 hr day- no weekend, no call. Must see all ages. Minor procedures. Market competitive rates.

Therapy Jobs:

Physical Therapist – PT – Portland, OR

Client in OR seeking Temp – PT – Home Health (Days) Portland, OR (PT) to work Days

Occupational Therapist – OT – Syracuse, NY

Client in NY seeking OT – Ongoing Saturdays (OT) to work Days

Speech Language Pathologist – SLP – York, PA

Client in PA seeking Temp – Rehabilitation – Speech Language Pathologist (Days) York, PA (SLP) to work Days

Occupational Therapist Outpatient Clinic – Rock Hill, SC

Immediate need for a Licensed Occupational Therapist to join a dynamic team of therapists. Prefer an OT with 1 or more years of experience working with pediatric patients. SC License.

Physical Therapist – PT – Macon, GA

Client in GA seeking Travel – PT – Physical Therapy (762) – Days (PT) to work 07:00-19:00

Physician Jobs:

Pediatric Practice Physician – Sidney, OH

Seeking a board certified or board eligible Pediatrician to join a very successful practice. Provider will see approximately 20 to 25 patients per day and enjoy a 1 in 4 call rotation with other employed pediatricians. The practice opportunity is about a 95 percent outpatient and 5 percent inpatient opportunity.

Urology Physician – Machias, ME

This is an opportunity to join a critical access, hospital affiliated multi-specialty group in a small town in Eastern Maine. The practice has been going strong for many years and continues to grow and progress with the times. This is a permanent position. Pay Rate median $450,000 annually and will be dependent on qualifications and experience. Incentive compensation based on WRVU generation. Relocation $10-15k. Sign on bonus $25k.

Physician – Sitka, AK

CoreMedical Group has partnered with a client in Alaska that needs ongoing coverage for their Emergency Medicine program. This opportunity requires an active AK license.

Physician – Punta Gorda, FL

CoreMedical Group has partnered with a client in Florida that needs ongoing coverage for their Neuro-Interventional Radiology program. If you do not currently have a FL license but are interested, we can help facilitate this process for you.

Physician – Williamstown, MA

Outpatient Primary Care. Board Certified FM or IM or BE within 2 years. BLS. Mon- Fri- 8a-5p with weekend call. October start date ongoing. Market competitive rates.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Is Your Nursing Career Making You Fat?

Is your nursing career making you fat? A new study says it could be. Take our poll and let us know just how much weight you think this study holds.

Employees with substantial workloads who experience exhaustion or burnout are more likely to emotionally eat and exercise less, behaviors that promote weight gain, according to a study published May 30th in the Journal of Health Psychology.

That sure sounds like a career in nursing, doesn’t it?

This isn’t the first time weight gain has been tied to the profession, either. Previous studies have found that nurses have a high rate of being overweight or obese, and that working the night shift can be linked to an increase in body weight. Though the job comes with many physical demands, and physical activity is a tried and true factor in maintaining a healthy weight, that doesn’t seem to help keep the pounds off when it comes to the emotional weight of nursing.

Have you packed on pounds since becoming a nurse, or do you feel as if this study doesn’t hold weight for you? Tell us below.

Have you gained weight, lost weight, or maintained your weight since becoming a nurse?:

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.