Maury Regional’s path to a 60% drop in contingent labor and 26% increase in RN retention

Maury Regional Health faced many of the same challenges shared by hospitals across the nation: elevated vacancy rates, an overextended float pool and limited visibility into what was driving staffing strain. By partnering with Aya Advisory Solutions, they optimized their float pool usage, elevated their employer brand and improved retention.

Table of Contents

1. Challenge
2. Strategic approach
3. Culture as a driver
4. Results
5. Why it worked

Challenge

Maury Regional Health (MRH) was experiencing critical workforce pressures. Nurse vacancy rates were rising — especially among seasoned clinicians — and internal solutions weren’t scaling fast enough. The float pool was not optimized, forcing leadership to rely on costly long-term contracts with external agencies and internal traveler arrangements, both of which addressed immediate staffing gaps but failed to deliver sustainable workforce stability. 

At the same time, recruitment efforts were falling short. Despite having open positions, applications were not coming in at the expected rate. Aya Advisory Solutions uncovered a critical visibility gap: job postings weren’t showing up in online search results, and its career site was difficult for candidates to find and navigate.

Strategic approach

As part of Maury Regional’s MSP partnership with Qualivis, they gained access to Aya Advisory Solutions, a strategic workforce consulting resource. The Aya Advisory team conducted a comprehensive workforce assessment and a detailed brand audit, uncovering several key areas of opportunity.

“We knew we needed both strategic insight and practical support, and they provided that through their Advisory Solutions team.”

Jenny Robertson, Human Resources Business Partner Team Lead at MRH

With support from the Advisory Solutions team, Maury Regional moved from insight to action:

Challenges identified	Actions guided by Aya Advisory Solutions
Elevated vacancy rates, especially among experienced nurses	Launched targeted recruitment initiatives and improved job visibility to attract more applicants
Overreliance on internal contracts and travelers	Transferred internal contracts into permanent staff roles
Fragmented float pool structure	Restructured float pool for broader access, flexibility and shift-based gig staffing
Low engagement with online job postings and limited brand recognition	Strengthened SEO, revamped careers site and enhanced recruitment messaging to emphasize facility accolades, improved staff growth opportunities and workplace flexibility
Generic or unclear job descriptions	Aligned job postings with MRH’s values, simplified language and highlighted benefits
Retention concerns linked to disconnect between leadership and clinicians	Fostered open communication and frontline engagement through stay interviews and leadership rounding

Culture as a driver

Maury Regional Health’s leadership knew that staffing stability isn’t just about numbers, it’s about culture. From stay interviews and shared governance to senior leadership rounding and open-door policies, the organization invested heavily in listening to its people.

“Our senior leaders are visible and accessible from day one,” said Tiffany Crews, MSN, RN, CNML, Director of Nursing Professional Development & Magnet Program Director at MRH. “New hires meet them during orientation, and we follow up regularly through stay interviews and rounding. It’s made a huge impact on retention.”

That focus on two-way communication, paired with the operational and brand clarity delivered by Advisory Solutions, helped Maury Regional realign its workforce strategy in ways that were both meaningful and measurable.

Results

• 60%+ reduction in traveler headcount
• 26% improvement in RN retention
• Significant cost savings from reduced contract labor and expanded gig staffing
• Notable increase in job applicants, particularly experienced nurses
• Top ranking in RN satisfaction surveys for culture, values and leadership support

Why it worked

“Aya Advisory Solutions brought a fresh set of eyes to our normal day-to-day — and that perspective was invaluable,” Robertson shared. With a fully integrated approach — combining data, consulting and hands-on support — Aya Advisory Solutions helped Maury Regional Health build a stronger foundation for long-term success.