I know you’ve barely had time to catch your breath after a tumultuous two years, but we need to talk about another crisis facing hospitals and health systems. One that healthcare leaders should know has far-reaching implications for patient safety, satisfaction, and your bottom line. I’m talking about the epidemic of burned-out nurses and healthcare professionals. The statistics are staggering:
75% of healthcare workers are predicted to leave the profession by 2025
25% of nurses plan to leave their job in six months
The 18.7% RN turnover rate costs hospitals $3.6 – $6.5 million per year
60% to 75% of clinicians report suffering from exhaustion, depression, sleep disorders, and PTSD
Healthcare Hero Posters and Pizza Lunches Aren’t Enough
We must think bigger to support physical and mental wellness for healthcare professionals. Dr. Victor Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine, stresses the need for health care leaders to focus on “the long game,” advising, “All health systems need to invest in preventive strategies and making system-level change.”
Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the College of Nursing and Chief Wellness Officer, Ohio State University, cautions, “Our clinicians cannot continue to pour from an empty cup. Fixing issues known to cause burnout and creating wellness cultures that bring evidence-based programs and resources to bear are the absolute best ways to make positive change and make it sustainable.”
So, What Do We Do Now?
There’s proof that wellness initiatives work. A new study shows nurses and healthcare professionals who work in environments supportive of wellness are:
3-9 times as likely to report good physical and mental health, no/little stress, and no burnout
5 times more likely to get at least seven hours of sleep nightly
16 times more likely to eat 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables
Less likely to report a negative impact of the pandemic on healthy lifestyle behaviors
Because of this pressing need to take care of our own and what I witnessed with my own clinician friends and family, I was inspired to take my decades of field experience and create TAP Wellness Coaching. TAP is a holistic approach to wellness that focuses on healthcare professionals’ unique physical, mental, emotional, and restorative health needs.
Enrolling your team in TAP and embracing the proven benefits of wellness programs puts your health system on the right path to reducing turnover, improving job satisfaction, and showing gratitude to your staff. Considering the cost of turnover for a single bedside RN is $40,038, TAP pays for itself many, many times over.
I urge you to do right by the clinicians you expect to show up, day in and day out and do the hard work. Together, we can heal those who are hurting.
To connect with me about TAP Wellness Coaching programs for your hospital or health facility, email me at info@healthliteracypartners.com