Insights From Nurses On The Frontlines

Insights From Nurses On The Frontlines

Many non-nurses may wonder what it’s like to be on the frontlines of nursing today. However, this curiosity is not necessarily limited to the highs and lows of the role itself and the demands that accompany it. Those working in talent acquisition and human resources may also wish to know what influences a nurse’s career decisions, or what nurses say healthcare organizations can do better to maintain a happy and motivated workforce. We chose to survey nurses and uncover their opinions on such topics, enabling us to share these first-hand insights with you.?

The Good

An overwhelming number of the nurses we surveyed credited ‘job stability’ and ‘work/life balance’ as the most significant contributing factors to a fulfilling career. In fact, many former travel agency nurses admit that taking a wage cut was worth the peace of mind that comes from working in a set location and being able to build a family life around more reliable shift patterns. Of course, the other obvious appeal of permanent roles is that nurses can opt for a city or state that more closely suits their needs and lifestyle preferences.

Career advancement is also hugely important. Employers offering tuition reimbursement programs are often able to attract more nurses and reduce turnover. Similarly, employee assistance programs provide further assurances to nurses in regards to their health and wellbeing, contributing to an optimal working environment. When we asked nurses “What are the top 5 things you want to know about a job before applying?” the organization’s ‘culture’ was frequently cited. This goes beyond pay and benefits. This is about nurses feeling valued and empowered by their employers. Our client Springfield Clinic recognises the importance of this. They lead such initiatives as community volunteering and ‘Employee Appreciation Week’ to ensure their staff feel engaged as a team and part of their community. It’s no surprise that they secured a well-deserved spot on Newsweek’s list of “America's 100 Most Loved Workplaces 2022.”

The Bad

Surveying nurses also teaches us what healthcare organizations get wrong. Beyond poor pay and non-competitive benefits, staff burnout is a widespread concern in the industry. The term ‘ratio’ appears frequently in our survey responses. While there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to nurse-to-patient ratios, the result of nationwide nurse shortages means healthcare organizations simply do not have the staff to always get this balance right. Consequently, many nurses are overworked.?

When we asked nurses "Why did you leave your last job?” 40% referenced ‘poor management’. We can see this reflected in Advisory Board’s 2011 article “The Top 5 Reasons Why Nurses Quit Their Jobs” where a third of 400,000 nurses cite mismanagement and burnout as the reason for leaving their current job. Interestingly, significant sign-on bonuses are often seen as a red flag. As one nurse stated in our survey, ‘the bigger the bonus, the less likely I am to join, if they’re offering that much, it’s probably not worth it’. In other words, sign-on bonuses may well seal the deal, but they may equally deter candidates who assume that financial compensation hides problems behind the scenes.?

So What Can We Learn from Nurses??

• Effective management is fundamental to building and maintaining a happy and motivated workforce.?
• Pay is important but career development and employee representation matter just as much.?
• Job stability often outweighs the monetary incentives of travel nursing.?

Find all of our survey responses here to learn more about the insights from nurses, both from a workplace and recruitment perspective.?

You can also visit our Results page to find out about the many healthcare organizations that Applichat Healthcare has sourced and recruited qualified nurses for throughout the US and Canada.