Leadership Series: U.S. Healthcare Workforce Retention Strategies

Pandemic Fatigue. Retirement. Great Resignation.

The case for effective workforce retention strategies has never been more important. This series offers healthcare leaders new insights and recommendations on how to heal and advance the workforce, backed by our IRB-reviewed research "Mind the Gap."

Episode 1

Understanding the Market Dynamics and Current Impacts on the Workforce

Burnout and high turnover at unprecedented rates are straining our healthcare system. Developing a thoughtful workforce strategy requires us to start at the beginning. This session will help you understand the underlying root causes of the current strain on the workforce.

Episode 2

"Mind the Gap" Qualitative Research

We partnered with the Schlesinger Group on an IRB-reviewed qualitative research project to hear directly from our frontline workers. We wanted to find out their true lived experience of providing care during these challenging times. This session walks you through the research methodology and explores the key findings.

Episode 3

Advance and Protect Mental Health and Well-Being

From the ongoing mental and physical exhaustion of providing pandemic care to the external pressures and politicizing of our profession, the emotional impact on the healthcare workforce is extensive. This session explores how leaders can be more intentional in addressing psychological needs, build cultures of resilience and help healthcare workers recover from what they have gone through.

Episode 4

Steps to Take Now

While financial compensation and flexibility are motivating factors when making career decisions, it's essential to recognize an employee's happiness and stress levels at an individual level to develop an appropriate go-forward plan. This session provides recommendations on how to uncover and address an individual's motivations including conducting purposeful rounding, incorporating the role of a Nurse Retentionist in your leadership team and "connecting the work to the why."

Headshot of April Hansen, MSN, RN

About the Instructor

April Hansen, MSN, RN Group President, Workforce Solutions Aya Healthcare

April Hansen is a senior executive at the nation's largest healthcare staffing company and a dynamic, engaging presenter. In her professional role, April oversees contingent workforce strategy and quality outcomes for 40,000+ clinical workers on assignment across the United States. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Leaders and in the past served as an elected member of the Wisconsin Nurses Association Public Policy Committee.

April was awarded the 2019 Wisconsin Nurse Leader of the Year, was named to Becker's List of Rising Healthcare Stars in 2018, Staffing Industry Analyst's "40 Under 40" list in 2019 and Staffing Industry Analyst's Global Power 150 - Women in Staffing in 2020 and 2021. April was published in the June 2019 edition of Nursing Administration Quarterly on disruption in healthcare and the role of nursing leadership. April serves as a keynote speaker nationally on leadership, decision making and workforce issues.