Why We Left 2022 Nursing Workforce Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There is a staffing and retention crisis in Minnesota hospitals. This crisis was created by the profit-first policies of hospital CEOs, and it can be corrected if patients and nurses are put before the bottom line of corporate boardrooms.
Studies conducted by the Minnesota Nurses Association of its current members, former members, and of the general public make this point clear:
• Minnesotans understand the nature of the staffing and retention crisis, as 85 percent believe it will not be solved without direct action, and two-thirds understand that hospital executives created the problem before the pandemic.
• There is no shortage of registered nurses in Minnesota, as studies and reports by the Minnesota Hospital Association, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Minnesota Board of Nursing clearly demonstrate.
• In 2021, 63 percent of MNA nurses reported that they had considered leaving their job or the profession altogether, or that they knew someone who had, due to being overworked, understaffed, and demoralized about the quality of patient care they could provide.
• In over 80 percent of cases where nurses filed a concern over the impact of short staffing on patient care, the nurses reported no response or inadequate action from hospital management.
• In a survey of MNA nurses who left their bedside nursing positions, the top-cited reasons for their departure were hospital management and chronic short-staffing.
• Despite the pandemic, over 75 percent of MNA members indicated their desire to stay at the bedside for the near future; of nurses who left the bedside in the last two years, 84 percent indicated that they would not return to the bedside if conditions did not improve.
These findings are supported and reinforced by independent research conducted by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which found:
• 32 percent of nurses surveyed said they “may leave their current direct-patient-care-role”, an increase of 10 percentage points from February to November of 2021.
• Nurses reported “staffing, pay, and lack of support” as the top factors driving their decision to leave.
• Of those likely to leave a current nursing position, only 29 percent indicated plans to continue in a direct patient care position.
BACKGROUND
Minnesota nurses are overworked and overwhelmed, hospitals are understaffed, and patients are overcharged by hospital executives trying to boost their bottom lines. Years of short-staffing and cost-cutting by hospital CEOs leave nurses trying to do more with less.
These conditions that hospital CEOs created are driving nurses away from the profession and hurting patient care. The pandemic did not create the nurse retention crisis. Rather, years of cost-cutting and short-staffing left hospital management poorly equipped to handle the pandemic, as nurses struggled to provide the care that patients expect and deserve without sufficient PPE, medical equipment and supplies, or staff to meet the need.
Even as the pandemic surged, several Minnesota hospitals closed units and facilities and furloughed nurses. Meanwhile, hospitals are paying temporary, out-of-state travel nurses far more than the pay and bonuses they are willing to provide for their own Minnesota nurses.
There is no shortage of nurses who want to care for patients, there is a shortage of nurses willing to work under these unsafe and unsustainable conditions.
• In 2014, the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) issued a study which found “the state-level supply of RNs will more than meet the demand” through 2024, assuming that RN graduate numbers continue to climb; this conclusion is echoed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which projects a surplus of registered nurses in Minnesota through 2030
• A 2021 report from the MN Board of Nursing shows that new RN graduates have climbed in Minnesota despite the pandemic
• The number of registered nurses in Minnesota has increased by over 14,000 in the past three years to a total of nearly 120,000 last year, the highest ever recorded in the state
IN THE LAST THREE YEARS
nearly 120,000 total RNs in MN highest-ever total nurses 14K
Now, Minnesota nurses are advocating for changes that will retain nurses and prioritize quality patient care by ensuring adequate nurse staffing levels and fair compensation and benefits, putting nurses and patients at the bedside ahead of hospital CEOs and corporate profits in the boardroom.
Our healthcare workforce is in critical condition. The future of our healthcare system in Minnesota depends on the choices we make now.
Our healthcare workforce is in critical condition. The future of our healthcare system in Minnesota depends on the choices we make now.
EXISTING SURVEYS
EXISTING SURVEYS
In the last two years, the Minnesota Nurses Association conducted extensive studies of both its membership and of the Minnesota public to better understand the scope and severity of the staffing and retention crisis in our hospitals.
In the last two years, the Minnesota Nurses Association conducted extensive studies of both its membership and of the Minnesota public to better understand the scope and severity of the staffing and retention crisis in our hospitals.
Before exploring the details of the Workforce Report below, several highlights from these previous MNA surveys are worth revisiting.
2021 MNA Member Survey
Before exploring the details of the Workforce Report below, several highlights from these previous MNA surveys are worth revisiting.
future of our healthcare system in Minnesota
In 2021, MNA conducted a survey of our members, asking a variety of questions about their experiences in the nursing profession.
2021 MNA Member Survey
Among the highlights of this survey:
In 2021, MNA conducted a survey of our members, asking a variety of questions about their experien ces in the nursing profession.
Among the highlights of this survey:
Association conducted extensive studies of both its understand the scope and severity of the staffing
• 55 percent of nurses reported that they had experienced a situation where they were not able to provide the care the patient required due to short staffing
• 55 percent of nurses reported that they had experienced a situation where they were not able to provide the care the patient required due to short staffing
• 44 percent reported patient safety had gotten worse in their hospital over the last five years, while only 6 percent felt it had improved
below, several highlights from these previous MNA
• 44 percent reported patient safety had gotten worse in their hospital over the last five years, while only 6 percent felt it had improved
• 63 percent reported that they had considered leaving their job or the profession altogether, or that they knew someone who had, due to being overworked and understaffed
asking a variety of questions about their experien ces
• 63 percent reported that they had considered leaving their job or the profession altogether, or that they knew someone who had, due to being overworked and understaffed
• Despite the pandemic, over 75 percent of nurses reported that they wanted to stay on the job and in the profession for at least four more years
• Despite the pandemic, over 75 percent of nurses reported that they wanted to stay on the job and in the profession for at least four more years
experienced a provide the care the
gotten worse in their percent felt it had
considered leaving their job or someone who had,
nurses reported that profession for at least
Considering leaving the bedside, or know someone who has
Considering leaving the bedside, or know someone who has
Want to stay at the bedside for the near future
Concern for Safe Staffing Forms
In Minnesota, nurses voluntarily file Concern for Safe Staffing (CFSS) Forms when they encounter situations where short staffing is negatively
Concern for Safe Staffing Forms
Concern for Safe Staffing Forms
In Minnesota, nurses voluntarily file Concern for Safe Staffing (CFSS) Forms when they encounter situations where short staffing is negatively impacting patient care.
No response or insufficient action from hospital management
A survey of CFSS forms from 2021 reveals:
In Minnesota, nurses voluntarily file Concern for Safe Staffing (CFSS) Forms when they encounter situations where short staffing is negatively impacting patient care.
• Minnesota nurses filed 7,857 CFSS forms in 2021
A survey of CFSS forms from 2021 reveals:
• In over 80 percent of those cases, nurses reported no response or inadequate action from hospital management when they brought up concerns for patient safety
No response or insufficient action from hospital management
2022 MNA Public Polling
A survey of CFSS forms from 2021 reveals:
• Minnesota nurses filed 7,857 CFSS forms in 2021
• Minnesota nurses filed 7,857 CFSS forms in 2021
• Compared to 2020, there was a 213 percent increase in reported cases of brand-new nurses being pulled off orientation prior to completion to care for patients
• In over 80 percent of those cases, nurses reported no response or inadequate action from hospital management when they brought up concerns for patient safety
• In over 80 percent of those cases, nurses reported no response or inadequate action from hospital management when they brought up concerns for patient safety
• Compared to 2020, there was a 213 percent increase in reported cases of brand-new nurses being pulled off orientation prior to completion to care for patients
• Compared to 2020, there was a 213 percent increase in reported cases of brand-new nurses being pulled off orientation prior to completion to care for patients
In January 2022, MNA conducted a public poll of 1,025 registered voters in Minnesota with an independent polling firm.
2022 MNA Public Polling
2022 MNA Public Polling
In this poll, Minnesotans shared the following:
In January 2022, MNA conducted a public poll of 1,025 registered voters in Minnesota with an independent polling firm.
In January 2022, MNA conducted a public poll of 1,025 registered voters in Minnesota with an independent polling firm.
In this poll, Minnesotans shared the following:
• Minnesotans understand the nature of the staffing and retention crisis, as 85 percent believe it will not be solved without action, and two-thirds understand that hospital executives created the problem and that it predates the pandemic
In this poll, Minnesotans shared the following:
• Minnesotans understand the nature of the staffing and retention crisis, as 85 percent believe it will not be solved without action, and two-thirds understand that hospital executives created the problem and that it pre-dates the pandemic
• Minnesotans believe hospital CEOs can afford to make the changes necessary to fix the problems they created. An overwhelming 88 percent of Minnesotans stated that they believe hospitals are run like for-profit corporations, and 77 percent understand that many hospitals were profitable over the past two years despite the pandemic
Hospital executives created the staffing crisis before the pandemic
• Minnesotans understand the nature of the staffing and retention crisis, as 85 percent believe it will not be solved without action, and two-thirds understand that hospital executives created the problem and that it predates the pandemic
• Minnesotans believe hospital CEOs can afford to make the changes necessary to fix the problems they created. An overwhelming 88 percent of Minnesotans stated that they believe hospitals are run like for-profit corporations, and 77 percent understand that many hospitals were profitable over the past two years despite the pandemic.
• Minnesotans believe hospital CEOs can afford to make the changes necessary to fix the problems they created. An overwhelming 88 percent of Minnesotans stated that they believe hospitals are run like for-profit corporations, and 77 percent understand that many hospitals were profitable over the past two years despite the pandemic
• Minnesotans are especially concerned with the high salaries and compensation of hospital executives in Minnesota, who take home multi-million-dollar salaries while nurses are understaffed and patients are overcharged
• Minnesotans are especially concerned with the high salaries and compensation of hospital executives in Minnesota, who take home multi-million-dollar salaries while nurses are understaffed and patients are overcharged
• Minnesotans are especially concerned with the high salaries and compensation of hospital executives in Minnesota, who take home multi-million-dollar salaries while nurses are understaffed and patients are overcharged
“’Nominally nonprofit community-spirited institutions have actually come to operate as profit-maximizing monopolies,’ with the excess going to executive compensation instead of dividends”
Phil Longman, Policy Director, Open Markets Institute
The Intercept, December 20 2020
“’Nominally nonprofit community-spirited institutions have actually come to operate as profit-maximizing monopolies,’ with the excess going to executive compensation instead of dividends”
“Nominally nonprofit community-spirited institutions have actually come to operate as profit-maximizing monopolies,’ with the excess going to executive compensation instead of dividends”
Phil Longman, Policy Director, Open Markets Institute
Hospital executives created the staffing crisis before the pandemic
The Intercept, December 20 2020
Phil Longman, Policy Director, Open Markets Institute
The Intercept, December 20, 2020
• If they intend to come back to bedside
• Why they left bedside nursing
