The Hidden Workforce: Where Have the Nurses Gone?

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Key takeaways:

An estimated 700,000 to 900,000 licensed US nurses have left clinical roles but still hold active credentials.
Nursa CEO Curtis Anderson argues the crisis is a systemic failure to keep nurses at the bedside, not a shortage of qualified nurses.
Nurses leave due to administrative burnout, workplace safety concerns, and family obligations that rigid schedules can't accommodate.
Anderson urges facilities to pair strong core teams with flexible pathways for clinicians who want limited or variable work.
Per diem nurses help facilities maintain safe staffing ratios, reduce turnover, and ensure consistent patient care.

According to industry estimates, between 700,000 and 900,000 licensed nurses in the US have stepped away from a clinical role but still maintain their credentials.

Curtis Anderson, CEO of Nursa, discusses in a McKnights article how the national nurse workforce crisis is not merely a shortage of qualified nurses, but a systemic failure to keep them at the bedside.

Why are nurses leaving the bedside?

The startling reality Anderson highlights is that these nurses are hiding in plain sight, working in retail, food service, insurance, or another industry. Most of these nurses decided to leave the healthcare setting because the structure of nursing jobs no longer accommodates the reality of modern life. When working a strict nursing schedule, nurses feel:

Burned out by administrative tasks
Concerned about workplace safety
Strained by family obligations

Gabrielle Mcphail, an RN and NP who works shifts with Nursa, said:

“When COVID hit, I feel like a lot of people thought nursing was aesthetic, but nursing is really a hard job. It takes a lot of dedication and time. You have to be serious in this role.”

What is the solution?

Anderson applauds initiatives aimed at strengthening the nursing workforce and the student pipeline. However, he also believes that facilities need to recognize that a shift towards flexibility will ultimately sustain nurses in the long term:

“Facilities maintain strong core teams while also creating pathways for clinicians who want to work on a limited or variable basis.” — Curtis Anderson

The stabilizing effect of flexibility

Some facilities maintain their workforce exactly as it is, but bring in per diem nurses to help for a few busy hours. Anderson cites a specific example of a facility in Minnesota that brings in per diem nurses to assist with medication passes.

By widening the focus to include training new nurses and also offering flexible work options, facilities can combat turnover and find those nurses seeking flexible work.

Ultimately, using per diem nurses allows facilities to maintain safe staffing ratios and ensure patients receive consistent care. Read the full article here.

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