Navigating Healthcare Talent Shortages: Key Insights from Our Webinar with Dr. Elizabeth Adams

In our March 15th webinar, we had the pleasure of hosting an enlightening discussion with our founder and CEO Tess Michaels and Dr. Elizabeth Adams, former CNE/CNO at Kaiser, HCA, and other large healthcare systems. Dr. Adams is an influential leader with a proven track record for creating centers of excellence where caregivers thrive. The conversation delved into the pressing challenges facing the healthcare workforce and managing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare industry. Here are some detailed insights and key takeaways from the conversation:

Healthcare Talent - Early Investment is Crucial:

Source: American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Dr. Adams emphasized the critical importance of early investment in healthcare education. Finding innovative education-to-career approaches that secure and nurture talent early will help address talent shortages and ensure a steady pipeline of skilled professionals. This is particularly vital in fields like nursing, where demand continues to outstrip supply.

Healthcare Workers - The Pandemic's Lasting Impact:

Dr. Adams shared her concerns about the lasting effects of the pandemic on healthcare workers, particularly nursing leaders.

Key Statistics:

• More than half of nursing leaders are considering leaving the profession.
• The median age of RNs is 52 years, with over one-fifth planning to retire soon.
• 68% of nurses do not feel hopeful about the future.

With more than half of nursing leaders expressing intentions to leave the profession and a significant portion of the workforce considering retirement, the need for support and retention strategies is more critical than ever.

Innovative Staffing Solutions Can Make a Difference:

• Our discussion explored emerging staffing models such as gig nursing and virtual nursing, which offer flexibility and potential solutions for burnout and staffing shortages.
• Rethinking traditional work structures and leveraging technology can create more sustainable and attractive work environments.

The Role of AI and Technology in Enhancing Nursing Practice:

• Speakers emphasized the potential of AI and technology to enhance nursing practice and patient care.
• Integration of technology, including clinical decision algorithms and advanced dictation tools, can streamline workflows and enable nurses to prioritize patient care.

Creating a Supportive Work Environment is Key:

• A key theme of the discussion was the importance of creating a workplace where healthcare professionals feel valued, supported, and connected to their purpose.
• This includes ensuring workplace safety, providing opportunities for professional development, and fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation.

Final Thoughts:

Our webinar underscored the urgent need to address healthcare workforce challenges through early investment in talent, innovative staffing solutions, and supportive work environments. As healthcare CHROs and CNOs navigate the future, collaboration between educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and technology partners will be crucial in building a resilient and sustainable healthcare workforce.

Stride Funding’s mission is about transforming access to education and career pathways. We are revolutionizing the way employers attract and retain critical talent, while simultaneously tackling the student debt crisis.

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