MIT x Host Healthcare: Measuring Against the Nurse Satisfaction Index
As a nurse, you are an integral part of our healthcare system. You provide support, guidance, care, and so much more to your patients. You take on challenges head on and act as an advocate for your patients. You save lives. Yet you are still human. Which means you also feel the strain of such a demanding job and you are not alone in this.
Burnout and dissatisfaction are leading to nurses resigning at record highs, driving a shortage of nurses.1 A recent study conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found that 100,000 nurses have left their positions in the last two years and another 600,000+ intend to depart before 2027.2 This shortage continues to put more pressure on current nurses, perpetuating the issue.
MIT Sloan Management Review recently published a study aimed at understanding what drives nurse satisfaction and how companies can better support their nurses. We are honored that Host Healthcare was ranked #1 out of the 200 healthcare companies in the study.3 But, we know there is still work to be done to improve the lives of all nurses.
We are on a mission to help others live better, so we want to dive into the research to explain how dissatisfaction can impact you and what you should look for in potential employers.
Understanding the Nurse Dissatisfaction Crisis
Research shows that employees who are happy with their careers perform better, demonstrate loyalty, stay longer, and even fuel greater bottom lines for their companies.4 This means that when you’re happy at your job, you can give better patient care, support the facility more, and avoid the dreaded job search.
On the flip side of the coin, job dissatisfaction can lead to… well, the opposite. Employees typically disengage before seeking out greener pastures (or switching professions altogether). In the field of nursing, studies have discovered that dissatisfaction is often attributed to professional burnout, as well as:5
- Tense relationships with peers and managers
- Reduced options for career advancement
- Decreased guidance from organizations
- Inadequate support
- Insubstantial resources
Drivers of Nurse Dissatisfaction: Insights from MIT
Research performed by Donald Sull and Charles Sull with MIT Sloan Management Review supports all of this. But by analyzing 150,000 nurse reviews of 200 healthcare organizations on Glassdoor, they were able to draw a clear picture on what this means for you as a nurse.6 Their analysis revealed that the biggest causes of dissatisfaction for nurses include:
- A lack of organizational support – A significant percentage of nurses complained that their senior advisers were “disconnected” and unaware of the challenges healthcare workers face on a daily basis. What’s more, nurses across the board felt that their concerns and needs were ignored and unmet.
- A toxic working environment – Nurses also named a toxic work environment as one of the top reasons for their dissatisfaction. “Toxic” relates to behavior that could be:
- Abusive
- Non-inclusive
- Immoral
- Inconsiderate
If you are in an environment where you feel this way, you are not alone. These issues spread throughout the industry and are a major reason resignation levels are so high. However, there are companies that are doing a good job at driving nurse satisfaction and things you can look for to determine this.
Host Healthcare’s Standout Approach—and Strategies for Improving Nurse Satisfaction
At Host Healthcare, we don’t just grasp why nurses are unhappy, we strive to make our nurses feel supported, empowered, and satisfied. We employ a lot of the practices below that according to the Nurse Satisfaction study are proven ways to drive nurse satisfaction.
And if travel nursing isn’t your thing, these are all practices that you can look for when interviewing with potential employers to gauge whether they will prioritize you.
- Supportive Culture: By cultivating a culture founded on respect, inclusion, ethics and support, employers create an environment that nurses want to remain in. You can leverage review sites, like Glassdoor, to get a sense for a company’s culture, or ask culture specific questions during your interviews.
- Transparent Communication: Having a facility that is transparent in the information they provide you allows you to have more trust in the relationship. This should come across as open dialogue that goes both ways. At Host Healthcare, this comes to life in a variety of ways:
- Dedicated recruiter: When you travel with Host Healthcare, you are paired with a dedicated recruiter who is here to have your back throughout your experience. In a permanent position, you can look for facilities who have team members whose main job is supporting and advocating for their nurses.
- Feedback surveys: We want your feedback on your experience with our team. We sent multiple surveys to better understand your experience, and review feedback daily so we can continuously improve.
- Informational Emails: Whenever important information arises that our travelers need to know (such as emergencies in your area or policy changes), our team provides updates via email and text. This allows us to provide you with the information you need and ensures you have direct access to our team for additional support.
- Empathetic Listening: Having an employer who makes you feel heard and listened to can make the world of difference. You want to look for facilities who provide avenues for you to share your feedback and proactively address the significant challenges that you face.
- At Host Healthcare, we have a team of in-house RNs who are here to do just that. Any time one of our travelers has a clinical concern, they are connected with our in-house RNs to receive expertise, guidance, and support from someone who has been in their shoes. Within a healthcare facility, this may be dedicated support staff or a nurse manager who is clearly focused on supporting and developing her team.
Rediscover Job Satisfaction with Host Healthcare
While the nursing shortage affects healthcare organizations and patients, it’s most deeply felt by nurses themselves—and it can’t continue. It’s up to healthcare organizations to change their ways to ensure your well-being as a nurse.
If you’re looking to build the life and career that you deserve—one that’s satisfying and fulfilling—consider working with Host Healthcare. As the #1 rated healthcare company in nurse satisfaction, we work hard to guarantee our nurses are heard, cared for, and supported.
Apply today to work with Host Healthcare and re-experience why you fell in love with nursing in the first place.
Sources:
- Berlin, Gretchen, et al. “Reimagining the Nursing Workload: Finding Time to Close the Workforce Gap.” McKinsey & Company, 26 May 2023, www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/reimagining-the-nursing-workload-finding-time-to-close-the-workforce-gap. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
- “Study Projects Nursing Shortage Crisis Will Continue without Concerted Action: AHA News.” American Hospital Association | AHA News, 13 Apr. 2023, www.aha.org/news/headline/2023-04-13-study-projects-nursing-shortage-crisis-will-continue-without-concerted-action. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
- Sull, Donald Sull and Charles. “Explore How Nurses Rate Their Employers.” MIT Sloan Management Review, 18 Oct. 2023, sloanreview.mit.edu/article/nursing-satisfaction-index/#interactive-launcher. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
- Brewer, Tracy. “Job Satisfaction Is Rising: What’s behind the Surprising Tend.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 12 Sept. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2023/06/04/job-satisfaction-is-rising-whats-behind-the-surprising-tend/?sh=699ba69c453b. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
- “The Nursing Burnout Crisis Is Also Happening in Primary Care.” Penn Today, 11 Sept. 2023, penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-ldi-nursing-burnout-crisis-also-happening-primary-care. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
- Sull, Donald Sull and Charles. “The Real Issues Driving the Nursing Crisis.” MIT Sloan Management Review, 18 Oct. 2023, sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-solve-nursing-crisis/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
