Healthcare organizations are competing for the same limited pool of clinical professionals while caring for an aging population and increasingly complex caseloads. The result: high turnover and project delays that affect patient care and margins. National data show strong, ongoing demand for healthcare workers. Registered Nurse openings remain substantial, and employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow faster than average.

What leaders can do today (practical, evidence-based steps)
1. Start with listening, then act.
2. Make development visible and affordable.
3. Rebalance workloads with flexible models.
4. Address well-being as clinical quality work.
5. Measure what matters.

Why this matters now
Multiple recent reports and workforce studies highlight ongoing shortages and pressure on the sector; investing in retention is not a “nice to have” — it’s how organizations keep care safe, sustainable, and cost-effective.

Call to action for leaders
If retention is a priority this quarter, prioritize 90-day listening cycles, launch one high-impact training stipend, and pilot a flexible scheduling model. Those three actions together show staff that leadership is both listening and acting, an essential step toward rebuilding trust and stability.